L I A R T ! f y o a d D o N T E p -u S n S g A i e S g! S a !! For Updates, Information and GREAT Offers on the fly-Text SASS to 772937! CCoowwbbooyy CChhrroonniii ccplllee C CCCooowwwCCbbboooywywy CbbCCoohhyhyrr r o CoConnnhhieiiiirccrcclollolleeeneniiiiccclllleee li NNSNoeoovpvveteeemmmmbbbbeeeerrrr 22 2200000001111 0 e PPPcaaagggeee 111 NNSSoeeopvpvetteememmmbbbbeeererr r 2 2 2200000111 00 S PPPaaakgggeee 1 11 ( H e r Cowboy Chroniiclle e ! appy New YeaOctober 2010 Page 1 !! H r! 7 1 The Cowboy Chronicle ~) The Monthly Journal of the Single Action Shooting Society ® Vol. 28 No. 1 © Single Action Shooting Society, Inc. January 2015 OUTLAW TRAIL

The SByA CSapSta iFn oGueorg eC Boayrlonr, ers Regional Championship SASS #24287 Life Regulator 2014 ounders Ranch, New Mexico. August 20-24, 2014—Outlaw Trail has been an annual event at Founders Ranch, home of END of TRAIL, for sev - eral years. It has been the Regional some times, and at other times Buffalo Stampede has been the re - gional. At one time Outlaw Trail was the Regional, and Buffalo Stampede was the New Mexico State Championship. Buffalo Stampede was in April or May, and Outlaw Trail started in August and moved around to as late as early October. It moved back to August last year and stayed there this year. August, believe it or not, is usually good weather in Albu - querque, not too hot, not too cold. April is iffy. Late September and October are even more so. It certainly started off with beautiful weather, clear blue skies and temperatures in the 70s and 80s. Outlaw Trail is a smaller event than END of TRAIL, so RVs are allowed to park “in town.” This is convenient, and free, too. Sonora Blaze (SASS #69510) having fun during the Wild Bunch Match Outlaw Trail warm up match. Activities started on Wednesday, August 20, with the Wild Bunch match, 10 stages, five each day for two days, writ - ten by WBAS Match Director J. Frank Norfleet. Frank is SASS C owboy Chronicle one of the rare shooters who participates in Wild Bunch 36 In This Issue SHOTGUN BOOGIE but not Cowboy. TRIGGER To keep from having to move targets between the Wild by Larsen E. Pettifogger C Bunch Match and the Cowboy Match with a small working h C 28 crew, the Wild Bunch match used bays at one end of the UTLAW RAIL OUNTED r o O T M 46 by Aneeda Huginkiss HE PACHE ARS o range and the Cowboy Match used the bays at the other end, w T A W by Craig Springer n b with only one overlapping. i o 32 c y ISPATCHES ROM Wild Bunch stages are more taxing than the average D F 68 l CAMP BAYLOR THE STRAIGHT SHOT e cowboy stage. They’re more complex usually, and, of by Capt. George Baylor by Jesse Wolf Hardin course, they have more pistol rounds (20-30 per stage is ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ CLICK any section ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ CLICK continued on page 10 Cowboy Chronicle Page 2 January 2015 The Cowboy Chronicle CONTENTS

5 FROCMLI CTK HoEn aEnDy IsTecOtiR ons e Skinny’s Soapbox (Reading the Digital Chronicle) . . . Editorial Staff 6-9 COSTUMING CORNER Skinny The Art Of Tea Dueling . . . Editor-in-Chief 14-21 ON THE RANGE Misty Moonshine Shootout At Bounty Gulch . . . Shootout At Twin Rivers Cow Town . . . Managing Editor 17 SAS S- END OF TRAIL 2015 (( SIGN-U P TODA Y!! ! )) Tex and Cat Ballou 22-25 CLUB REPORTS Editors Emeritus Shootin’ Our Way Across America . . . September In The Sun . . . Adobe Illustrator 26 WILD BUNCH CORNER Layout & Design Red Dirt-Oklahoma State Wild Bunch Championship . . . Mac Daddy 28-31 MOUNTED Graphic Design Outlaw Trail-Four Corners Regional Mounted Shoot . . . Prairie Mary 32-45 GUNS & GEAR Advertising Manager Dispatches From Camp Baylor . . . Shotgun Boogie . . . (505) 843-1320 • Cell: (505) 249-3573 46-49 HISTORY [email protected] Apaches Victorio And Geronimo Kept The Military On The Move . . . Staff Writers 50-53 PROFILES Capgun Kid 2014 Scholarship Recipient . . . Capt. George Baylor Chilkoot 53 TRAIL MARKER Col. Richard Dodge Always To Be Remembered . . . Jesse Wolf Hardin 54-67 ARTICLES Joe Fasthorse Comic Book Corner (Black Diamond Western ) . . . Larsen E. Pettifogger Palaver Pete 68-74 STRAIGHT SHOT Tennssee Tall and The Straight Shot . . . Rio Drifter SASS NEW MEMBERS LIST White Smoke Steve 69 Wolverine Wrangler The Cowboy Chronicle is published by 76 , 77 GENERAL STORE /CLASSIFIED The Wild Bunch, Board of Directors of The Single Action Shooting Society. SASS MERCANTILE For advertising information and rates, ad - 78, 79 ministrative, and edi to rial offices contact: Chronicle Administrator 80 SASS AFFILIATED CLUBS (MONTHLY) (ANNUA L) 215 Cowboy Way Edgewood, NM 87015 (505) 843-1320 FAX (505) 843-1333 Visit our Website at email: [email protected] http://www.sassnet.com The Cowboy Chronicle SASSNET.COM (ISSN 15399877) is pub - lished monthly by the Single Action Shooting Society, 215 Cowboy Way, Edgewood, NM 87015. Periodicals Postage is Paid at Edge - Texas Flower (SASS #43753) wood, NM and additional mailing offices ® (USPS #032). POSTMASTER: Send ad - is not only an avid SASS Trademarks The Cowboy Chronicle SASS ®, Single Action Shooting Society ®, dress changes to , 215 Cowboy Action Shooter™ END of TRAIL ®, EOT ®, Cowboy Way, Edgewood, NM 87015. The Cowboy Chro nicle and Costumer, but is also TM , DISCLAIMER - The Single Action Shooting a serious fan of Cowboy Action Shooting TM , Society does not guarantee, warranty or en - TM TM dorse any product or service advertised in CAS , Wild Bunch , this newspaper. The publisher also does not Steampunk outfitting and TM Wild Bunch Action Shooting , guarantee the safety or effectiveness of any now a newly-discovered sport, The World Championship of product or service illustrated. The distri - TM bution of some products/services may be il - Tea Dueling! Cowboy Action Shooting , legal in some areas, and we do not assume Read all about it Bow-legged Cowboy Design, and the responsibility thereof. State and local laws Rocking Horse Design must be investigated by the purchaser prior in Costuming Corner are all trademarks of to purchase or use or products/services. The WARNING: Neither the author nor in this issue. The Single Action Shooting Society, Inc. Cowboy Chronicle Any use or reproduction of these marks can accept any responsi - bility for accidents or diffe ring results ob - without the express written permission tained using reloading data. Variation in of SASS is strictly prohibited. handloading tech niques, compo nents, and fire arms will make results vary. Have a competent gunsmith check your firearms before firing. VISIT US AT SASSNET .COM Cowboy Chronicle January 2015 Page 3

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SKINNY’S SOAPBOX Chroniicle Reading the digital The Cowboy Chronicle ince went all digital, I’ve Welcome to heard the complaint from numerous sources that Jesse Wolf Hardin members find it difficult to read because of the We’re kicking off 2015 “fine” print, so I thought I’d address that issue and give with a brand new feature by Skinny SASS #7361 Sreaders some solutions. It’s true that the type size cannot Jesse Wolf Hardin. Jesse has be increased nor can you zoom in on the type in the dig - spent his life researching and living the Western dream ital online version, as our online publisher, Mirabel, does and promises to regale us with his stories and observa - not offer those features. You can increase the size some - tions in the coming months. I’m very pleased to add him what by making your browser window as large as possi - to our list of regular contributors. Look for his column The Cowboy Chronicle ble, and if you double click on a page you’ll get a at the end of each issue of . slightly larger view of that page, but that’s about it. (If Happy New Year you do that, then move your cursor to the side and click I hope everyone had a happy holiday season and that to return to a page view with toggle arrows, so you can 2015 will be a joyful and prosperous year for everyone. move to the next page.) —Skinny If you’re reading online, the theory is you’ll be using a computer with a fairly large screen or a full-size tablet and will therefore not need to enlarge the type. Of course, if you’re using a mini-tablet or a phone, the on - line type does appear small. That’s one reason why we also offer each issue as a PDF download. Once you download into a PDF reader, such as Kindle or iBooks, you will then have the ability to “pinch and expand” each page to make it readable. To do this, touch the cen - ter of your screen with your thumb and forefinger, then move your fingers apart, and the area you wish to en - large should expand for you. If you want to read on your computer but still want to enlarge the type, you can do that with the PDF as well. Simply download to your desktop and open with Acrobat Reader or Acrobat Pro. Once the issue is open, go to the toolbar at the top and click on the magnifying glass icon. You will be able to use this to expand any section of each page as much as you want. If the magnifying glass icon isn’t there, then go to the taskbar at the top of your com - puter screen. In Acrobat Reader, click on “View,” then go to “Zoom” and choose “Marquee Zoom.” In Acrobat Pro, click on “Tools,” then go to “Select & Zoom” and click on “Marquee Zoom.” In you don’t have Acrobat, go to http://get.adobe.com/reader/ to download the latest version of Acrobat Reader for free.

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ThEe AA rt Of DUELING , Texas Flower, By Texas Flower SASS Life #43753 SASS Life #43753 Pictures by Texas Flower n days of yore, dueling was often the way to chal - elist. This sport has been known in the UK for Ilenge an opponent or settle a dispute. When some time and was introduced to the US in Febru - thinking about a duel, a sword or gun is often en - ary 2012 by the American Society of Tea Dueling. visioned. But what about a TEA Duel? A Tea Duel can take place any time or place. To While attending a Steampunk Convention in prepare for the duel, appropriate teacups, hot tea, Dallas recently, I was introduced to the Art of Tea and cookies are necessary. Lemon, milk, and sugar Duelling and the use of Tea Cup Holders. Tea Du - or sugar substitute are optional, but may be re - elling is often conducted at Steampunk Conven - quested by participants who want to drink their tions and Tea Cup Holders are frequently used tea. Any kind of tea is permitted. “Malted Milk” and with costumes. Participants at the convention “Nice” biscuits are used In the UK, but since these seemed to enjoy the Tea Duel so much, I became are not available in the US, the recommended bis - interested in the rules and requirements. After cuit is the Pepperidge Farms Chessman Cookie. contacting the lady in charge of the Dallas Tea In a Tea Duel, known as a “Tiffin Party,” duelists Duel, “Madame Askew,” and doing some research, sit across from each other at a table each with a this is what I learned about a Tea Duel. cup of tea known as the “Brew Martial.” Only tea Tea Duelling (spelled using the Queen’s Eng - may be used (coffee and chocolate are strictly pro - lish) is an elegant sport for a more civilized age. hibited) and should be as near to 150-180 degrees Tea Duelling is the art of gracefully dunking a tea as possible. The drinking vessel, known as “The biscuit (cookie) into a “Cup of Brown Joy” (tea), Keg,” shall be no less than three and one quarter soaking it for five seconds, and then lifting it and inches deep and made of pottery or metal. The duel cleanly “nomming” (consuming) it—all without should be presided over by a president/umpire dripping tea, losing biscuit fragments into the tea known as the “Tiffin Master/Mistress.” An ap - or on the table, and doing so after your fellow du - (Continued on next page)

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The Art Of Tea Dueling . . . (Continued from previous page) pointed officer, known as the “Pot Master,” is re - sponsible for the supervision of Kegs, the Brew Martial, and suitable biscuits for the duel. The duel will begin with the laying out of the biscuits by the Tiffin Master. Six biscuits will be Anatomy of a TEA DUEL

Supplies necessary for a Tea Duel. Weapon chosen.

Ready to Dunk. The Dunk

The Wait. A Splodge—too late to NOM.

laid upon a white napkin on a serving plate. The Tiffin Master will place the biscuits on the table between the duelists and give the command “choose your weapons.” Each duelist chooses one of the six biscuits. Biscuits must be held in one hand with finger and thumb no further than one half inch from the edge. Hands or fingers cannot be changed during the duel. The Tiffin Master gives the order, “Ready,” and biscuits should be posi - tioned over the appropriate keg no more than six (Continued on page 8) VISIT US AT SASSNET .COM Cowboy Chronicle Page 8 January 2015

The Art Of Tea Dueling . . . (Continued from page 7) inches above the lip. On the command, “Dunk,” du - elists will immediately and swiftly lower their bis - cuit into the brew. At least 50 percent of the biscuit must be held submerged in the tea for an audible count of five seconds.

Cup Holder hanging from Cup Holder carried on the arm. a chatelaine. Biscuits are withdrawn from the tea and held while deciding when to “nom” the biscuit. They are usually held vertically. The duelists are permitted to hold the biscuit elevated (nearer to the mouth) My cream-with-pink-flowers Cup Holder. (Continued on next page)

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The Art Of Tea Dueling . . . (Continued from previous page) or the lower hold rest - ing the hand on the table to keep it steady. There are three ways to lose the duel before nomming the biscuit: the “splash,” when a biscuit crumbles into the tea cup, the “splat - ter,” when a biscuit Inside of Cup Holder – pockets for supplies – a pad to put crumbles onto anything My Steampunk Cup Holder. between cup and saucer. A leather Cup Holder. other than the tea cup or the duelist, and the “splodge,” when a bis - cuit crumbles onto the person. The goal of tea du - elling is to get a clean nom without having lost any pieces along the way. When duelists achieve a nom, the one who waited the longest before eating their bis - cuit is the winner. When both duelists manage a clean nom, then the du - elist who last mouthed their biscuit is consid - ered to be the victor with their opponent de - feated. The duelist must put at least 94 percent of the biscuit in their mouth to win. The Tiffin Master/Mistress is the judge and declares the winner. Both Ladies and Gentlemen are eligible to participate in a Tea Duel. So, grab your teacup holder and LET THE DU - ELLING COMMENCE! ! VISIT US AT SASSNET .COM Cowboy Chronicle Page 10 January 2015 . OUTLAW TRAIL 2014 ,

(Continued from page 1) Three-Person Team Side Match was going on. It went on the common). A lot of movement is also common. rest of the week. With the excellent shotgun facility at It’s hard to pick a “sample” stage, because they varied. Founders Ranch some shotgun side matches that would be So I’ve picked Stage 3 to describe. It required 30 pistol difficult at most ranges can be handled. rounds and 4 shotgun rounds. On the left side of the range At 1:00 p.m., over at the long range kiosk, the long range was a building front with a window on each side of the door. matches started: Single Shot Black Powder, Single Shot Each window had a shelf for long guns, the left one angled Smokeless, Buffalo Rifle, Optical Sights, Lever Action Rifle Caliber, and Lever Action Pistol Caliber. Lady competitors were recognized in each category. You could shoot either Wednesday or Thursday, but only once in each category. Wild Bunch Speed Matches and Bolt Action Military Rifle started when the Wild Bunch match stopped over at Bays 15 and 16. On Thursday the Wild Bunch match continued, but the shooters were broken into two small posses, enabling the shooters to finish by 2:00 p.m. Simultaneously the Cowboy Warm Up stages went on at Bays 7, 9, 11, and 13. These were considerably simpler than the Wild Bunch stages, on the same bays as the cowboy main match but with different scenarios. The side matches continued. Main Cowboy Match Last year New Mexico, SASS clubs were invited to write the stages. This resulted in stages that varied quite a bit in concept and difficulty. This year, match director, Mica Rain came and stayed most of Friday. McGuire (SASS #18526) wrote all of the stages. He used toward the left berm, the right one angled toward the right END of TRAIL’s excellent stages by T. A. Chance (SASS berm. Then a few yards down range was a fence with a shelf, #4072) as a guide. These were different but with the same and, off to the right, further down range was another fence philosophy. Mica’s lovely and energetic wife Ez Gz (SASS with a shelf. #83885) was Event Coordinator and Support. There were four knockdown targets off to the left, and The scenarios were based on the theme “Arizona Out - five “hostage and hostage taker” targets in front, another five laws.” Last year’s was New Mexico Outlaws. Last year the off to the right and further down range. These targets consist (Continued on next page) of a silhouette target (the hostage) and a movable small round target off one shoulder (the hostage taker). No, I don’t know why we would shoot at hostages. STAGING: Shotgun loaded with 4 rounds in the left window. Pistol loaded with 5 rounds and holstered. STARTING POSITION: Standing at the right window with hands on each side of the window frame. PROCEDURE: With shotgun, engage the four shotgun targets and discard shotgun back in the left window, pointing into the berm. Moving through the door to position 1, sweep the five hostages, then the five hostage takers, then the five hostages once more. From position 2, repeat the instructions on the next set of targets. So, this emphasized precision shooting with the 1911. The “hostages” were big, but the “hostage takers” were small. No one shot the match clean. Meanwhile, up the hill at the Founders Ranch Shotgun Sports Club, the Cowboy/Wild Bunch/Black Powder Clays Saturday was sunny and dry. VISIT US AT SASSNET .COM Cowboy Chronicle January 2015 Page 11

Outlaw Trail 2014 (Continued from previous page) using second revolver as needed. From doorway with posse marshals were from New Mexico clubs. This year they rifle, engage the rifle targets were from Arizona. with the same instructions The stages all “flowed,” meaning they were all about the as the revolvers. From left same complexity (pretty simple), with fairly close targets, no window, shoot the four bonuses, no aerial targets, no “hostage takers.” Six ran from shotgun targets. left to right, and six from right to left. All three of Founders Since not everyone has Ranch’s excellent permanent read my articles on previous sets were used. This turned out matches that epitomized the to be extremely useful as Friday “State of the Art” in stage had light rain and no wind most writing, I’ll repeat some of of the day. The shade set up in the principles that work: Do each bay was useful at keeping Ez Gz shooting Wild Bunch not specify direction unless rain off the shooters as well. Ladies Modern. absolutely necessary. Don’t Stage 11 give unnecessary instructions. For example, “restage your Two stages were in Hot rifle.” If the shooter wants to restage it where it was shot, Tamale’s Cantina, the newest fine. Or take it to the next table, why not? The next principle permanent set. Both were 10 re - was in the shooter’s handbook when I joined in 1999. Use volver, 10 rifle, and 4 shotgun, big targets relatively close. No target is too close or too big as were 10 of the other stages. Stage 2 had 6 shotgun. Hot Tamales has three shooting po - sitions, a door in the middle and a window on each side. Four Wild Horse John (SASS #85994). shotgun knockdowns were in front of the left window, four chili pepper shaped rifle targets in the middle, alternating red and green, and four similar re - volver targets on the right. This scenario was dedicated to Pearl Hart. Pearl Hart com - mitted one of the last recorded stagecoach robberies in the United States. On May 30, 1899, while working as a cook in a boardinghouse or running a tent brothel near the local mine (historians disagree about her profession), she and an accom - Six (SASS #41283) won Plainsman Modern. plice, a man who called himself Joe Boot, robbed the Globe to miss. A note about close targets: we are shooting lead bul - to Florence, Arizona stagecoach. The two held up the stage at lets at steel targets. Bullet fragments will come back—unless gunpoint at a watering point near Cane Springs Canyon, about the targets are properly designed. The targets at Founders thirty miles southeast of Globe. Hart took $431.20 and two Ranch are angled down. The splash goes down, as a result firearms from the passengers. The Pinal County Sheriff caught (angle in = angle out). After a match you can see a trench in the two six days later. Boot surrendered front of them left by bullet splatter. peacefully, but Hart fought to avoid cap - Again, six stages involved running from ture.” left to right, and six were right to left. Please STAGING: Rifle on table in doorway, note that this is a good thing. shotgun at left window, revolvers holstered. “Repeat the instructions” is an anti-proce - STARTING POSITION: Start in right dural device that simplifies things. Gunfights arch, hands by your side. Shooter snarls, are not memory contests. An example from “I’m NOT going peacefully !” Stage 4: “With rifle engage the back three tar - PROCEDURE: With revolvers, triple gets in a 2-1-2 sweep and repeat instruction, tap an outside target and then alternate for may start on either end each time. With re - four shots between the next two targets volvers engage the front three targets using then triple tap the other outside target, Johnny Meadows (SASS #28485). (Continued on page 12 ) VISIT US AT SASSNET .COM Cowboy Chronicle Page 12 January 2015 . OUTLAW TRAIL 2014 ,

(Continued from page 11 ) barbecue was included in the entry fee. There are matches same instructions as rifle.” So, this means you could, for ex - that “nickel and dime” the ample shoot rifle target 1 twice, 2 once, and 3 four times, contestants for side matches then 2 once, and 1 twice. Or you could start on target 3. and banquet tickets. This A certain number of procedurals are inevitable because wasn’t one of them. people make mistakes. Last year the match was more com - Drawings for raffles and plex, but the number of procedurals and clean shooters was the bigger contestant prizes about the same. 10 percent of the shooters shot clean. were done early in the cere - Plainsman Match monies. If you’re having The three-stage Plainsman Match was held after the main drawings for more than, say, match on Friday. It was 10 prizes, you should have still raining on and off. done it at registration or dur - This meant the Plainsman Trigger Happy Ted (SASS #88160). ing the match. Nobody wants shooters shot nine stages in to be there till midnight lis - a row. This caused a cou - tening to tickets being drawn ple of shooters to pass be - for $10 prizes, and keeping cause they were exhausted. the big prizes to the end of Not every shooter is a 25- the awards ceremony, well, year old Army Ranger. I that would be wrong, too. would recommend other Last year’s Buffalo Stam - matches not do this. Put pede had low cost awards be - Plainsman on side match cause when they had to be Marie Laveau (SASS #67222). day. I could gush on how ordered, only 32 contestants well the match went, but since I wrote the stages, that would had entered. This angered be wrong. some folks. This year’s Friday night, the evening at the Belle Union Saloon fea - Lodan B. Fast (SASS #47576) prizes were definitely Re - tured the Last Minute Bluegrass Band, winners of the 2012 —hot Duelist. gional quality, with fine Santa Fe Bluegrass and Old Time Music Festival band con - plaques for the top three in every category. Additionally test, and a Dessert Bar. there were no minimum entries to have a category, espe - Saturday the sun returned, and it was a beautiful day. cially in the older and younger categories. After the main match Cowboy Action and Wild Bunch Side If there was a “Theme” to the awards, it was “Cobra Cat’s Matches continued with Pistol Poker; Speed Rifle; 1911 Year.” Cobra Cat (SASS #19275) won Winter Range, the Speed Pistol (Modern and Traditional); Speed Shotgun Cow - SASS National Championship, overall; END of TRAIL, the boy Pump; Speed Shotgun Cowboy Lever; Speed Shotgun SASS World Championship, overall; the Colorado State Hammerless Double; Speed Shotgun Hammered Double; Championship, his home state; and Outlaw Trail, his regional. and Speed Shotgun Wild Bunch Pump. You don’t see that every day in SASS. In fact, Misty Moon - Then Saturday evening the awards banquet. Excellent shine (SASS #83232) thought it had never happened before. The overall Lady Champion, by a tiny margin, was Lady 49’r champion and 8 th overall, Texas Tiger (SASS #74829). Lady Wrangler champion Amber Ale (SASS #66175), was 8.99 seconds and 21 rank points behind. All in all, in my “after action report” I have to say that Outlaw Trail only disappointed in one area. It was about 100 contestants short. I could write an entire article on the an - swers people gave me when I asked why they weren’t at - tending, but it wouldn’t change things. Because of the light turnout Outlaw Trail will no longer be the Four Corners Re - gional. Its loss is a shame, especially considering the quality of this year’s event. The stages were among the best I’ve Saturday night’s dinner was included in the entry fee. (Continued on next page)

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Outlaw Trail 2014 (Continued from previous page) seen, and the off-the-range activities were first class and well done. Visit http://www.sassnet.com/outlaw/ for a complete list of standings for the Main match, the Wild Bunch match, and the Plainsman match.

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ShootoBuOt aUt NTY GULCH 2014 SASS Western Canadian Regional Championships

By Grey Beard, SASS #79061 Life and Territorial Governor for Saskatchewan

askatoon, SK. August 7-9, 2014 saw the second SASS Western Canadian Regional Champi - Sonship. Cowboys and cowgirls from across Canada, and as far South as California, arrived to take part. Once again, the members of the Saskatoon Muzzle Loader Club opened their doors to partner Reverend Sweet Dorsey with the Saloon Girls. with the Saskatchewan Association of Wild West Shooters to host the event held on their dedicated Cowboy Action Shooting™ range, “Bounty Gulch,” named after the ghost town of Bounty, Saskatchewan. The range is now two years old and features a mis - sion, sheriff’s office, saloon, general store and bank, with plans to make it bigger and better next year. With only one past shoot history to draw on, a com - mittee of members from both Saskatchewan Associa - tion Wild West Shooters (SAWWS) and Saskatoon Muzzle Loader Club (SMLC) was formed. The committee members worked Best dressed couples: tirelessly throughout the first place, Wanderin Rose (SASS #78642) and Mad Trapper of Rat River (SASS #78641); second place, Victoria Diamond (SASS #60952) and winter and summer months Haweater Hal (SASS #55287); third place, Pistol Packin’ Laniee leading up to the shoot. (SASS #82686) and Jericho (SASS #74073). Their hard work made the search, “Canadian Outlaws” was chosen as the shoot event a huge success. theme. Each stage featured an outlaw who was either With the rich history of from Canada or committed their crimes in Canada. the town of Bounty, the With names like the Mad Trapper of Rat River, Bill shoot committee decided the Miner, Boone Helm, Red Kelley, the McLean Gang, second SASS Affiliated and the Flying Dutchman, Grey Beard had no end of shoot should honour the material to work with as he wrote the stages. cowboy spirit of the pioneers For three days the air was filled with gunshots that settled and built West - from side matches and the main match along with RO Top shooters Victoria Diamond ern Canada. After lots of re - and Short Fingered Bill. (Continued on next page) VISIT US AT SASSNET .COM Cowboy Chronicle January 2015 Page 15

Shootout at Bounty Gulch . . . (Continued from previous page) Courses; swap meets and ven - dors in the event tent; a saloon girl contest; and other fancy dress contests each night. We played cowboy golf (with guns of course) and once again the members of the SMLC hosted a Knife and Hawk Trail Walk, to name a few of the activities. The top 10 men and women shooters. Thursday started with an mented that it was a real treat for other museum-goers RO2 course while the ladies to see so many beautiful ladies dress in 1800s garb. dressed up in their best finery Thursday afternoon side matches, set up by Pepper and, along with their photogra - Em In Lead (SASS #92312) and Wild Boone (SASS pher Wild Whiskey Wade (SASS #92715), were a big hit, featuring both speed and pre - #97244), traveled to Boomtown cision shooting matches using shotguns, revolvers and for a Victorian Tea at the Western rifles. We shot speed pistol, rifle and shotgun, along Development Museum. There with precision pistol and rifle, with prizes for the top they were treated to a museum men and women in each category. Thursday evening Mad Trapper of Rat River recounts the tale of tour and served a sit down lunch - featured a steak supper followed by entertainment by his namesake. eon. Comments from those who the Mad Trapper of Rat River (SASS #78641) as he took part indicate it was a big hit and they would like to told the story of Albert Johnson, the historical Mad see it repeated next year again. The folks who run the Trapper of Rat River, and his fight across the Yukon museum are hoping they return as well. They com - (Continued on page 16 )

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Shootout at Bounty Gulch . . . (Continued from page 15) Territory. You could have heard a pin drop as the Mad Trapper told the story of his flight with words and music from his violin. After the story was complete, Mad Trapper treated us to several songs including one he had written to commemorate a former student who died serving his country. I’m not sure if it was the tune Victorian Tea at Boomtown. or the story that he told with it, but there were a lot served victories in the women’s and men’s categories. of tear-filled eyes as he played. After each days shooting, competitors were treated The main match stages were entertaining and de - to some delicious food prepared by Saskatoon Muzzle picted events that took place in Western Canada and Loader Club members. After Friday night’s supper of the USA. The scenarios included jailbreaks, robberies fried chicken, we were treated to the second annual and lots of gun battles. Having targets that were big, Saloon Girl contest, hosted by Doc Thompson (SASS close, and hittable added to the fun, resulting in many #53294) and Reverend Sweet Dorsey. As usual the accolades to the host committee for a well-run shoot. contest started with a sermon from Sweet Dorsey on Shooters acted out stages that included Pearl Hart, the evils of wine, women and song, filled with lots of the Bandit Queen, and her exploits in Arizona. As the Oh Yahs. Then the cowboys had the opportunity to story goes Pearl was born in Eastern Canada. After purchase a ticket they leaving her husband and chil - could redeem for a drink or dren Pearl moved southward cigar from their favorite committing minor crimes until saloon girl. This year’s she took up with an outlaw twist to the contest was going by the name of Joe Boot, the tickets all went into a robbing stage coaches. After hat and the saloon girl they were caught and sen - who sold the lucky ticket tenced Pearl escaped from jail was the winner of a single and the legend of the Bandit action revolver. At the end of the night, Meadow Creek Queen was born. Ma (SASS #96461) was crowned Top Saloon Girl. The One of the most entertaining contest raised just a tad under $2000.00 to support stages was stage six, which fea - youth Cowboy Action Shooting™ here in Canada. Now tured an outlaw hiding in the outhouse. After cleaning we’re waiting to see what kind of evil Doc and the Rev - up most of the bandits with their revolvers and five erend will dream up next year. rifle rounds, the “Flying Dutchman” is found hiding. Saturday night was the awards banquet and fancy After shooting the door open, con - dress up night. Roast beef with all the trimmings was testants dumped all remaining on menu followed by door prizes and the awards pre - rounds on the gang leader hiding sentations. The committee raffled off a bronze sculpture just inside the door, then finished that raised $370.00 to be donated to the SASS scholar - the stage with four knock down ship fund. Then, because of the generous support of our shotgun rounds. sponsors, every competitor received a door prize, plus Over the two-day main match, we gave away three revolvers to participants. Best cowboys and cowgirls shot every dressed, side match, category and the top 10 overall type of sweep imaginable. Compe - men and women were recognized to end a very success - tition at the top was fierce, but at ful second Western Canadian Regional Championship. the end of the day, Victoria Dia - Thank you to SASS and all of the folks who supported mond (SASS #60952) and Short us with donations to our prize table. The committee vows Fingered Bill (SASS #82161) to make the shoot bigger and better next year, so watch edged out the competition, earn - for the posters or visit http://www.sawws.com/ and get it ing the buckles with well-de - on your shoot schedule.

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q Shootoutq at TWIN RIVERS SASS CANADIAN COW TOWN Nationqal Champioq nship By Helena Handbasket, SASS #85280 and Slim Delgado, SASS #85279

the end of summer means the heat is starting to moderate somewhat. One piece of Wild West scenery seemed to be missing, amloops, British Columbia, August 29-31, so an intrepid team of shooters K2014. Boy howdy! You know you’re in cowboy headed on foot and by jeep to country when match director Gunfighter Jim (SASS the top of a very steep and in - #31412) has to keep reminding SASS accessible hillside behind the shooting shooters to close the gate to the range bays. What’s a Cowboy Action Shoot - so the grazing cattle don’t get out onto ing™ match without a warrior on the Trans Canada Highway. This was horseback looking down on the pro - a real open range, but it was also the ceedings? After much climbing, ham - venue for the 2014 SASS Canadian mering, engineering and sweating, the National Championship. new life-sized silhouette was installed Cowgirls and Cowboys from Western high above the range. Canada and the Pacific Northwest came to ranch coun - The fun started Friday morning with a three-stage try in central British Co - Wild Bunch match. This is a relatively new aspect to lumbia to compete, camp Cowboy Action Shooting™ in Canada, so we were out, catch up and com - pleased to see so many interested and talented shoot - miserate. This part of BC ers showing up and having a good time. Of course, cos - is well-known for scorch - tuming is a huge part of our sport, and Wild Bunch is ing-hot summers and no exception. We had the usual shooters dressed as sage brush-covered hills, U.S. cavalry, Gringo bandits, and a larger-than-life so holding the match at (Continued on next page) VISIT US AT SASSNET .COM Cowboy Chronicle January 2015 Page 19

Shootout at Twin Rivers Cow Town • SASS Canadian National Championship . . .

(Continued from previous page)

Mexican peon. There were into the buggy to commence the course of fire. Good no reports of unpleasant thing we all ate our Wheaties that morning! interactions with the resi - Another stage had life-sized saguaro cactus to dent rattlesnakes, which shoot around. The saloon stage had a different window was a relief to the peon in or door for each gun, so a fair bit of traveling was in - his sandals. (Continued on page 20 ) Ladies had a tough deci - sion to make, because while the Wild Bunch match was going on, a ladies Victorian Tea was also scheduled. This is where the ladies trotted out their finery, fripperies and furbelows. Those who attended the tea discovered the classic charm of homemade scones, clotted cream, and strawberry preserves, alongside a groaning table of other irresistible good - ies. Turns out that our hostess, the always elegant and well-dressed Lady Shuswap (SASS #53492), is an amazing baker too. The action continued in the afternoon with the usual precision and speed side-matches and long- range competition. A lot of the competitors felt that if it weren’t for drinking too much coffee, or not enough coffee, or eating a bigger breakfast, or a smaller break - fast, or getting a little more sleep, or a little less sleep the night before, they would have snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. I think they’re probably right. Saturday morning found the excited shooters ready and raring to go. We had five main-match stages each on Saturday and Sunday, with a little Kamloops twist thrown in to make things interesting. One stage had an authentic beautifully-restored Democrat buggy as a prop. That stage started with the shooter carrying a sack of grain over his or her shoulder, then flinging it

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Shootout at Twin Rivers Cow Town • SASS Canadian National Championship . . .

(Continued from page 19) volved. The stages were written to be challeng - ing but not difficult, and everyone was able to enjoy themselves while testing their mettle against their shootin’ buddies. That’s not to say that it was easy— oh no. Stage one was we had wrapped up another everybody’s favorite, with the shotgun targets re - year’s national finals and it placed with poppers loaded with clays. Some of our was all up to the scorekeepers. most experienced shooters met their Waterloo on this These are the often-unsung stage, but a few brand-new shooters were surprised to heroes of each match, toiling hit the flying birds. There’s nothing that shows the away in small crowded rooms cowboy spirit more than than when a rookie shooter compiling the statistics that does really well on a tricky stage. After five fun stages, Saturday night’s awards for side-matches and costumes were handed out. The multi-talented couple of Preacher Flynn T. Locke (SASS #86343) and Geor - gia Bank (SASS #86344) won for best-dressed man and best-dressed lady in costumes created by Georgia Bank. We were also entertained by fre - quent appearances at the awards podium by Hurri - cane Hayley (SASS #94450), who accepted so make it all worthwhile. Thank many award certificates you all! We also appreciate our for side-matches that she vendors, some of whom come finally resorted to carry - from across the line and show ing them in her teeth. up faithfully every year. When After the formalities all was revealed Sunday were over and the formal - evening at the banquet, our wear hung back in the overall Canadian champions closet, campfire socializ - are, once again, Haweater Hal (SASS #55287) and Vic - ing and tall-tales com - toria Diamond (SASS #60952). Visit pleted the evening’s http://www.ktsa.ca/CanadianNationals.html for a entertainment. complete list of scores and standings. The second day of The 2015 SASS Canadian Nationals will be in Mis - shooting passed in a sion, BC, near Vancouver. We’re all looking forward to flash. Before we knew it, (Continued on next page)

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Shootout at Twin Rivers Cow Town • SASS Canadian National Championship . . .

(Continued from previous page) catching up with far-flung cowboys we may only see once a year, and trying to grab the chance for a belt-buckle again. Hope to see you there!

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SHOOTIN ’OUR WAY ACROSS AMERICA .New Jersey , By Tennessee Tall, SASS Life/Regulator #49245, and Rio Drifter, SASS Life/Regulator #49244 Rio Drifter, SASS #49244 and Tennesse Tall, SASS #49245 Photos by Dancin Angel,SASS #53686, Doom’s Darlin’, SASS #92853, and Jesamy Kid, SASS #34841

Jackson, NJ—our 42 nd state and counting! urprise! Yep, that is what we got in New Jersey. SWe were not expecting to find the Old West alive and kicking in Jackson. Be prepared for sur - prises when you visit the Northeast. For starters, very friendly folks, serious shooters, and an abun - dance of the BEST DRESSED cowboys and cow - girls we have seen in our travels. The website for the Jackson Hole Gang gives trav - elers clear concise information New Jersey Postal Match posse. on how to transport guns and match in September. The ammunition into the state. Je - matches were held at vari - samy Kid, Territorial Gover - ous participating clubs

Baby Bella and nor, was explicit in telling us throughout the country Cimarron Boca. to follow the rules and drive and the world, with final, safely. Visit http://www.jacksonhole gang.com/ for worldwide scores tallied at more information. the end. The Doily Gang is Jesamy Kid, of the Jackson Hole Gang, conducts responsible for the idea, Duel winners, Maspeth Kid, a new shooters class on Saturday before each Sunday and further details, along Chivato, and Rio Drifter. match. New shooter Lone Wolf Austin (SASS with final scores, can be found by going to #100393) showed http://doilygang.com and clicking on the Postal he paid attention, Match link. Those who weren’t participating in the as he was a mem - overall competition (like us), were welcome to shoot ber of one of the top as though it was just a monthly match. teams in the shoot Dancin Angel, three-time New Jersey State Lady off. We shot the Champion, wrote two of the stages, and two more first four stages of were written by Appaloosa Amy, SASS #63949, Con - the Postal Match, necticut State Champion, and New England Regional which consisted of Lady Champion, from the Ledyard Sidewinders in a four-stage match Connecticut. There were also shooters from Pennsyl - Doom’s Darlin’, Bronco Joan (SASS #30643), in June and an - vania, Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey, and Florida, Dancin Angel, Wyoming Schoolmarm, and Tennessee Tall. other four-stage (Continued on next page) VISIT US AT SASSNET .COM Cowboy Chronicle January 2015 Page 23

Shootin’ Our Way Across America • New Jersey

(Continued from previous page) making up four full posses. After the fourth stage of the Postal Match, three names per team were drawn from a hat to make up 14 teams to go head to head in the first Doily Gang Duel. The first team member drawn shot ten rifle rounds, ran back and tagged the second team member, who shot 10 revolver rounds, then ran back and tagged the third Jim (SASS #98823) and Sweet - member of the team, who heart Sherry (SASS #68929), and cleaned up any misses and their daughter Sweet Irish (SASS fired two shotgun rounds. I #96160); and Papa Gray (SASS was having a really good time #73118) and Irish Devil (SASS #87190). We saw right up till Maspeth Kid (SASS moms, dads, and kids proudly practicing an Ame - #98037), Chivato ( SASS #91643), rican tradition. You can see by the photos that and Rio Drifter beat my team! everyone is talk - We feel like we have made some lifelong friends ing costumes, in the Northeast. We loved guns and shoot - shooting with Vaquero Dan ing. Yep, New (SASS #31330) and Wyoming Jersey was a Schoolmarm (SASS #32070), very pleasant from Bridgeville, Delaware, surprise! again. Shooting is definitely a family sport as illustrated by Papa Hawk (SASS #10380), Baby Bella Hawk (SASS #92817), and her dad, Cimarron Boca (SASS #7032). Families ruled the day with Dancin Angel and Je - samy Kid; Vaquero Dan and Wyoming Schoolmarm; Doctor Doom (SASS #69253) and Doom’s Darlin’ (SASS #92853); Johnny Swan (SASS #50322) and his son, J. Everett Swan (SASS #92973); Irishman

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Fourth Annual D O U B L E B Shootout By Frenchy Cannuck SASS #86789

ugust 8-10, 2014. Things being Arelatively quiet at the “Double B Ranch,” the cowhands are sittin’ around the firepit telling tall tales. The BB ranch is located in South - eastern New Brunswick, Canada, near Moncton. The BeauBassin Range Riders have been Cowboy Ac - tion Shooting™ for four years al - ready. The first year was a one-day event and the only match that year. The second year we decided that in order to make the trip worthwhile, we should offer two days of shooting and did so for two years. This year the event has grown again, on Thurs - day we offered a Wild Bunch RO Course offered by Legendary Lawman (SASS #73160) and Serenity (SASS #64982). Five new WBAS ROs were anointed that day: Frenchy Cannuck (SASS #86789), Range Gypsie (SASS #81433), Capt. Henry Cut - ter (SASS #85380), Ace Holder (SASS #94589), and Doc McGilli- cuddy (SASS #93946). On Friday there was a Wild Bunch Match and at the same time there were some speed matches happening for those who were interested. Saturday after the customary safety briefing the Cowboys and Cowgirls were treated to four main stages and one of two signa - The winner was The Blackrock Kid (SASS #95826). ture side mat - That evening we all gathered at the “Scandinavian ches, The Good Village,” a local resort where all the buildings are The Bad and The made of logs—a fitting décor. There was a BBQ and Ugly. These side some cheers and great socializing, the ladies and gents matches have be - where attired in their fineries and were a sight, draw - come favorites ing admiration from other guests of the resort. with the shooters. (Continued on next page) VISIT US AT SASSNET .COM Cowboy Chronicle January 2015 Page 25

SEPTEMBER IN THE SUN By Palaver Pete, SASS #4375 hat a beautiful summer day the Pine Mountain Posse had for their Wmonthly shoot in September—it was Mother Nature at her very best. The day was made even more pleasant by visiting shooters from other areas of Ore - gon, as well as the return of Snowbird, Doc Valantine (SASS #39814), who re - sumed his normal fast shooting style by winning the Senior Duelist Category. Perennial winner Hoss Reese (SASS #88815) led the entire pack with a blister - ing 141.29 seconds for five very tricky stages. I say “tricky,” because we had two Palaver Pete, stages where five of ten rifle rounds were fired in one sequence, and then re- SASS Lif e/ Regulator #4375 staged (in accordance with SASS rules) and the last five rounds shot in another sequence (very interesting). Sunrise Bill (SASS #64301) and Tetherow Tex LaRue (SASS #90999) were the instigators of the rifle shooting sequences, but the posse adapted quickly, and after several insurance policies were used, seemed to agree that the aforementioned stages were a challenge well met. Deadwood Pete (SASS #57450) nipped-by Will Preacher (SASS #77260) to win the 49’r Category, while visiting shooter Yo Montana (SASS #72343) took the Lady 49’r title. Sierra Sage Sue (SASS #57487) was top Cowgirl, and The Legend (SASS #36069) topped the Gunfighter category. Also visiting us with his winning smile was Reloader Fred (SASS #68761), who won the Silver Senior category while barely nosing-out Highroller Ross (SASS #99885), who was top Cowboy for the day. For total scores by stage and category, and for scores of past shoots, visit our Website at: www.pinemountainposse.com/ you’re a Daisy if ya do.

“What am I supposed to do here?” Well, the answer of course was, “Shoot your Visiting Shooter, Yo Montana fires her ‘73 on Tetherow Tex LaRue asks of RO Hoss Reese rifle so fast we can see the brass fly through the her way to winning the Lady 49’r Category. as Will Preacher looks on. air.” And this he did with excellent precision.

our beautiful country planning to return via the Fourth Annual Double B Shootout . . . northern states. (Continued from previous page) The weekend was a rousing success and shooters On Sunday things got underway again and the day went away promising to return. We saw experienced ended with another side match this one based on the shooters displaying great performances and offering Duke’s movie Rio Bravo. Again, this is an event that advice to newer shooters. There was a great sense of is now a staple of our annual match. friendship and camaraderie that has become the norm This year was special in the fact that we enjoyed at the BB Ranch. We enjoyed seeing our old friends as spending time with the returning Legendary Law - well as meeting new ones. Y’all come out and play man and Serenity from Ontario, and welcomed Cap - there’s always enough to go around at the BB Ranch. tain Copps (SASS #57513) from British Columbia, a For complete scores, or if you want to learn more gentleman and a good man to ride the river with. about the ranch, y’all can visit our website at Captain Copps was traveling and shooting across www.doublebcowboys.com .

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Oklahoma State , WILD BUNCH Championship

REDBy M isDsouriI MRae, ST ASS #80828

Modern winners (R-L): Paladenton (SASS #68542), first place and state champion; Lonesome Buck (SASS #77860), Oklahoma State Champions third place; Dusty Boddoms Missouri Mae Lady Traditional winners (L-R): Lady Modern winners (L-R): (SASS #1907), second place. and Paladenton. Green Eyed Brazos Belle Krazy Kat (SASS #100929), (SASS #82399), first place; second place; Missouri Mae, Kathouse Kelli (SASS #72384), first place and state champion. second place and state champion. klahoma City, OK . A small but dedicated group Oof shooters from Oklahoma and Texas gathered at the Oklahoma City Gun Club, home of the Territo - rial Marshals to participate in the fourth annual Oklahoma State Wild Bunch Championship. Thirty- two shooters, including four ladies, shot ten fast and exciting stages over the two-day period of Friday and Saturday, October 11 and 12. It looked like a scene from the great movie, with our shooters well repre - senting the cowboys, military, and even the Mexican Senior Modern winners (R-L): Flat Top Okie (SASS #80827), rebels. After shooting six stages Saturday, most were first place and state champion; Backwoods Butch (SASS #85732), third place; Jackaroo (SASS #29989), second place.

Traditional winners (L-R): Crooked Bullet (SASS #70870), first place; Stoney Cahill (SASS #92623), second place and state champion; Snake River James (SASS #12523), third place. ready for a break. Everyone relaxed a bit and enjoyed a barbeque dinner, which concluded with numerous door prize drawings, including a Rock Island 1911, (Continued on next page) VISIT US AT SASSNET .COM Cowboy Chronicle January 2015 Page 27

Red Dirt • Oklahoma State WILD BUNCH Championship . . . (Continued from previous page) that was won by Choctaw Al (SASS #88106) from Texas. I bet he was glad he decided to come at the last minute! Saturday was another beautiful day, with some shooters hoping to continue their success from the previous day and some hoping to recover from earlier problems. With all stages completed, we all gathered at the pavilion for brisket and links, giving everyone the chance to brag or whine about their day. After this short break, we reconvened at the Adobe Wall for the top gun shoot-off and

final awards presentation. Twenty-four shooters competed in the furious shoot- off, with Green Hill Bart (SASS #95894) taking Top Gun Honors. Many of us thought it might never hap - pen, but for the first time since we’ve been hosting the Wild Bunch Championship, one shooter completed the match clean and with no penalties. So unprepared were we for this possibility, that we had failed to purchase an award for this, so we had to order one the next day. Congratu - lations to Buff Driver (SASS #85299) from Oklahoma City, we are all proud of you. Congratulations to all the winners, placers and state champions. Please visit http://www.okcgunclub.org/cowboy/wild bunch.html for a complete list of final scores and for more information on the Territorial Marshals.

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Four OUTLAW Corners Regional MOoUr NTED Shoot Aneeda Huginkiss, SASS #23798 TRAIL The Huginkiss Sisters’ Most Recent Adventure! t came! Yup, the invitation to shoot Mounted at Outlaw Trail found its way to my mailbox… My By Aneeda Huginkiss, SASS #23798 Iemail box that is! The date was August 23 and 24 at Founders Ranch in Edgewood, New Mexico. I hur - self, “I AM NOT FALLING ried and filled out my entry form and sent it back. I OFF!” So I did what any cowgirl had to do a bit of persuading, but got Helda Huginkiss would do… I started grabbing (SASS #23799) talked into make the trek with me and anything I could to stop my I couldn’t wait! I have to add that Helda loves to shoot, quick descent towards the dirt! but her shooting horse, Tempest, is getting old and is I grabbed his ears, forehead and lame so she can’t ride her then around his neck with my anymore. She decided she arms and wrapped my legs could ride and shoot off of (what little I have of them!) TopHawk. He’s 22 and close around his neck as well. That to being retired as well. made him stop and put his head I started riding my trusty up, causing me to slide down his pony Teaser to get him ready Icelady and Aneeda, neck and stop when I hit the for the competition but he ready to shoot! saddle. When he brought his was “off”… and by “off,” I head up, he saved me! Maybe he thought a boa con - mean he tried to BUCK ME strictor had gotten ahold of him. Didn’t matter, I was OFF! TWICE! What’s up with still on a part of the horse, anyway! I tried to dismount that? He isn’t usually like and get back into the saddle but couldn’t get my leg Helda and Toppy. that… I thought maybe he (remember they are short!) over the saddle horn so I needed to be adjusted by my horse chiropractor (yup was stuck! What to do? I finally folded my legs under they have them for horses!), but just before I left for me and hoisted myself up over the saddle horn back Outlaw Trail I figured out what was up… into the saddle. Then I proceeded to have my husband, Cannonball Charlie, informed a “discussion” with my horse about his be - me when he was loading my hay in the havior… and we loped a lot of circles! I also trailer that he had been feeding him alfalfa! had a “discussion” with Cannonball Char - OH NO! He gets HOT when he eats al - lie about feeding Teaser alfalfa! falfa… hence the bucking incidents. You re - Helda called me Thursday, really sick ally should have seen the first time he with a cold and a bad cough, and said she bucked. If someone would have videoed it, was feeling puny and didn’t think she had we could have won $10,000.00, I’m sure! I the energy to go. I was so sad, but under - was working on getting him to run FAST stood. I did tell her I would take care of her and rounded a corner and he dropped his all weekend if she decided to go. She called head and bucked… I being such an accom - later and said she was feeling better and plished rider went right over his head and would go… woohoo. Then Friday she was headed for the ground thinking to my - Aneeda and Teaser. (Continued on next page) VISIT US AT SASSNET .COM Cowboy Chronicle January 2015 Page 29

Outlaw Trail Four Corners Regional Mounted Shoot . . . (Continued from previous page) called and had coughed all night, Stuttering Wayne had the but being the tough cowgirl she is, grounds and arena in tip - she said she was going anyway! top shape for the shoot… Unfortunately we both had to he did a great job! work Friday so we had to leave After the shooting Sat - after work. I have decided work is urday, we had time to go a four letter word and it sure gets to SASS Town and check in the way of our playing! It was out the vendors, yes ven - raining when we loaded the dors! Helda and I found Stone Cone Killer on Snowman. ponies and hit the road on our some great accouterments to buy. We walked back to most recent adventure to Outlaw the Mounted Camp and had lunch with Stuttering Trail! It rained on us all the way Wayne. There was a potluck planned for 6:00 p.m. Stuttering Wayne and Blair. to Albuquerque and then we ran with all the Mounted Shooters so we kicked back and into road construction and sat for a half hour in it… relaxed for a couple of hours. Actually, I cleaned our just our luck. We pulled into Founders Ranch around guns while Helda took a little nap… she needed it! 11:00 p.m. and were met by a worried Stuttering At 5:30 we all gathered at Chili Cowboy and Sassy Wayne (SASS #71602), who helped us get our ponies Susie Q’s trailer for our fajita potluck. Let’s see, Helda in pens, watered and fed. We didn’t even unhook the and I were there, of course. Chili Cowboy and Sassy trailer we were so tired. We went straight to bed. Susie Q; Painted Lady and Gettysburg Cowboy (SASS Saturday dawned cool but clear with a little breeze! #74480); and El What and Pokie Honus, who made us NO WIND! Wow, that is unheard of.We always have a most awesome drink called a Goom Bay Slammer LOTS of wind to blow the arena and brought empanadas (my favorite was the pump - dirt around so we are all covered (Continued on page 30 ) with it by the end of the day! We were up early, moving the trailer and making a pen for the horses. Founders Ranch was greener than I have seen it in years, there were wildflowers blooming every - where and the sunflowers were Chili Cowboy. eight feet tall and the horses had grass everywhere! We dressed up in our cowboy clothes and got our ponies warmed up for the four stages we were shooting. We had Rifle stages too! It was a small gathering of Mounted Shooters. I wish more could have made it, because they missed a really fun match with great stages and even greater people! There were 11 of us shooting, Helda and I; Chili Cowboy (SASS #59663) and Sassy Susie Q (SASS #59662); Stone Cone Killer (SASS #87476); Wild Kat Karson (SASS #90430); Sunset Kit Karson (SASS #90431); Stuttering Wayne and Icelady (SASS #71603); El What (SASS #93967) and Pokie Honus (SASS #98879). Painted Lady (SASS #74481) was responsible for the great horsemanship stages Aneeda on Teaser, giving shotgun a go. we ran… they were challenging. VISIT US AT SASSNET .COM Cowboy Chronicle Page 30 January 2015

Outlaw Trail Four Corners Regional Mounted Shoot

(Continued from page 29) kin one)! It was a fun evening filled with good food and good friends. Sunday morning brought high fluffy clouds and it Outlaw Trail was warmer than Saturday, but the breeze was light Hay Bag as we got ready for our second day of shooting. We had Award. two stages to finish the match and then Shotgun and the Extreme Team Stage. After our last two stages and all the smoke cleared, I couldn’t believe it, I shot the entire match clean! I don’t do that very often! like the wind when I dropped the reins so I let him go Helda tried her best but two of those darn balloons and concentrated on hitting my targets. I missed the ducked and eluded her eagle eye! first two balloons (shot too soon) but popped the last It was time for Shotgun. I tried my hand with the three balloons with my second shot! Woohoo… and I Shotgun at END of TRAIL and loved it. Scared me to got my horse stopped! We shoot two stages with both death, mind you, but it was FUN. Let me explain Rifle rifle and shotgun, so I reloaded and went in for my and Shotgun shooting to you. You have a pattern with second stage. I missed a light balloon with my re - five light-colored balloons and then a rundown (a volver, darn it, but only missed one dark balloon. My straight line of balloons) with dark balloons. For Rifle horse ran straight and did really well for his second and Shotgun, you shoot the first five light balloons time and he stopped, which is very important! I talked with your revolver, holster it then draw either your Helda into doing a Shotgun time only. I put my scab - rifle or shotgun, round the rundown barrel and start bard on her saddle and loaded the shotgun for her, shooting the rundown balloons. (For shotgun the bal - gave her a few pointers, and out into the arena she loons are grouped in a group of two and another group went! She got the first five balloons with her revolver of three because you only have two shots… so you and then pulled the shotgun, she slowed down and have to pop all the balloons in the group with that one aimed and hit one balloon with her first shot then hit shot!) When you go around the barrel and start shoot - two out of the last three balloons with her second shot. ing with your rifle or shotgun, you drop your horse’s Wow, she did great for her first try. She came out of reins and hang onto the gun. Your horse has to run the arena all smiles and I asked her what she thought. straight so you can hit your targets, and you have to She said it was the scariest thing she had ever done trust that! Then at the end you have to retrieve your but she loved it! I think she’s hooked! reins and stop your horse… kinda scary—actually re - The shoot was almost over, we only had the Ex - ally scary—but as I said FUN, FUN, FUN. I did really treme Team Stage left. Darn, it went so fast! They pair well at Outlaw Trail. I knew my horse was gonna run (Continued on next page) Division Winners: Extreme Team Results: L1: Wild Kat Karson First Stone Cone Killer & L2: Stuttering Wayne Helda Huginkiss SL1: Icelady Second Chili Cowboy & SL2: Stone Cone Killer Wild Kat Karson SL3: Helda Huginkiss Third Stuttering Wayne & SL4: Aneeda Huginkiss Sunset Kit Karson S1: Sunset Kit Karson Fourth Pokie Honus & S3: El What Aneeda Huginkiss S4: Chili Cowboy Fifth Icelady and & El What Rifle Results: First Stuttering Wayne Clean Second Chili Cowboy Match: Aneeda Huginkiss Third El What Shotgun Results: First Aneeda Huginkiss Second El What Third Stuttering Wayne Fourth Wild Kat Karson /

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Outlaw Trail Four Corners Regional Mounted Shoot . . .

(Continued from previous page) Buffalo Range Rider logo on them and there were the slowest shooters with the fastest shooters and an - buckles for the Men’s Overall and Women’s Overall nounce the teams. I got Pokie Honus and Helda got winners. Stone Cone Killer. Gettysburg Cowboy assisted with I was surprised when I actually came in first over - stage set up and the Extreme Team Stage, as did all… that never happens. So I won Women’s Overall Painted Lady. We walked through the obstacles, there and El What won Men’s Overall (he came in second was a jump, cactus to maneuver through, a snake in overall). Helda came in fourth overall and won Re - the grass to shoot (that’s a balloon stuffed inside a serve Ladies bragging rights. knocked down cone) and lots of twists and turns. One We said our goodbyes, gave everyone hugs and partner started the course and shot five balloons, went kisses, loaded our ponies and started the long drive to the hand off area and touched hands with their back home to Colorado. We had so much fun we hated partner, who then shot the last five balloons and to go, but the shoot was over, the dust had settled, and crossed the timer. Competition was fierce and every - we would have to wait until next year to shoot Outlaw one was doing their best to win, but when the last Trail again. team had shot, Helda and Stone Cone Killer beat us I want to give kudos to the Buffalo Range Riders. all handily. They smoked us! The whole shoot ran like a well-oiled machine. We had Awards were 20 minutes after the team stage so we lots of help announcing and the balloon setters did a untacked our horses and took their pen down, packed top-notch job. They know how to put on a wonderful, up the trailer and hurried back for the awards. All di - entertaining Mounted Shoot. You can be sure we will vision winners got really nice black hay bags with the be back for Buffalo Stampede in the Spring!

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DISPATCHES FROM . CAMP BAYLOR , Captain George Baylor, By Captain George Baylor, SASS Life/Regulator #24287 SASS Life / Rugulator #24287 Ringer’s Bullets, Black Powder, Black Powder Fouling and the Desert Black powder leaves a residue in the barrel that ead Ringer (SASS #87957 Life) with his wife will get hard if it dries out, essentially turning the LMiss Behavin’ (SASS #88511) own and operate barrel into a smooth bore. If it is kept wet, this will Ringer’s Bullets (http://ringersbullets.com, 270- be delayed or eliminated. Waxy bullet lubes cause 331-2386). At END of TRAIL he mentioned he had the fouling to get hard quickly, destroying accuracy been using a lube that worked with black powder and making gun cleaning difficult. and smokeless and could The trick is to keep the fouling soft. This is nat - be shipped in bulk. Lead urally easier in a damp climate. It’s also helpful to Ringer shot Frontier Car - run a wet patch down the bore occasionally. tridge in SASS at champi - Black Powder Bullets are “Different” onship level before Generally bullets that work with black powder moving to smokeless, have a lube that is very “runny.” This makes them which he now shoots at difficult to ship. Put them in a bullet box and stick championship level. He them in a flat rate shipping box, and they arrive a won the shoot-off at END gooey mess with the lube in a blob on the bottom. of TRAIL 2014 in one of Consequently, bullet makers who use SPG, the the most spectacular fin - most common commercially available black powder ishes ever. He used to live bullet lube, normally put them in Styrofoam car - Ringer’s Bullets that are shipped in Oregon and learned tridge box inserts. This is labor intensive and adds in USPS flat rate boxes are black powder lore from Ol considerably to the cost. Very few bullet makers do packed in these sturdy boxes. #4 (SASS #41004) and it, so the selection is limited. Mike Venturino coined Most black powder bullets cannot be bulk-packed this other hardcore black pow - the term UPS bullets for bullets that could be way because their lube melts. der shooters. shipped in bulk boxes. Lead Ringer’s bullets qualify as UPS bullets. The melting point is about 20°F lower than the most com - mon commercial lube, but it still stays solid when shipped. They worked with black powder where he lives, in Kentucky, but he didn’t know how well they would work in a dry climate, like, say, Phoenix. So he asked me to test five different bullets. This meant load - ing 100 rounds with each bullet using black powder. I also loaded Ringer .38 bullets in ammunition for a test of American Pioneer Powder Premium Grade (July 2014 Dispatches From Camp Baylor ). They worked quite well in that test, contributing to the small groups obtained. I consider them all good This is how most black powder bullets, lubed with SPG, are shipped, general-purpose Cowboy Action Shooting™ bullets. in Styrofoam cartridge box inserts. This makes them expensive and time consuming to load. (Continued on next page) VISIT US AT SASSNET .COM Cowboy Chronicle January 2015 Page 33

Dispatches From Camp Baylor . . . (Continued from previous page) Test methodology The test was designed to see how long you could go without cleaning the bore before it “fouled out.” Six stages was the goal. Normally, that’s the most you shoot in a day at a SASS match. The test methodology made it more demanding than shooting six stages at a match. You might shoot a stage every 45 minutes at a match, and the gun cools between stages. I shot 10 rounds at a 15 " x 15 " SASS target at 25-30 yards 200-grain RNFP .45 Colt bullets. through one rifle, picked up the brass, and shot the The one on the left has normal smokeless-sized lube grooves. other rifle. So 5-10 minutes between stages was max. The one on the right has a Big Lube groove to hold enough lube for shooting black powder in rifles. The barrels were often still hot when I started the next string. When fouling occurs, you know it almost imme - fouling is common. In the old west, of course, Win - diately. Center hold, perfect sight alignment, slow fire chester used bottlenecked .44-40 or .38-40 cartridges shots start missing. Each test stopped when I was con - to keep fouling from the chamber and the action. vinced the barrel was fouled or after 60 rounds. The load was 35 grains of Goex Cartridge. All The barrels got very hot, which contributes to hard loads had a good roll crimp. That’s a compressed fouling. I didn’t run any patches or Windex (with load, about 1/16 th to 1/8 th inch. This is hotter than Vinegar) through the barrels until a test was done. necessary (or desirable) for SASS, but my theory is Then I sprayed Windex down the bore and ran a wet if it works, then lighter loads will work. Bore Snake through the barrel until it was clear of On the fourth string the action became very fouling. I started each test with a clean barrel, cham - gritty. On the fifth the lever became very hard to ber, and shell lifter. move, and the shell lifter was black and sooty. So I Black powder also causes fouling in the chamber cleaned the shell lifter with the Windex/Ballistol and the action. This occurs sooner with straight-wall routine until the action was slick again. On the cartridges than bottlenecks such as .44-40. If you can’t sixth string the last two shots missed, indicating work the lever, it’s hard to shoot the rifle quickly. fouling was beginning. Cleaning the chamber was a separate issue. I spray a Verdict: Acceptable. If I were shooting this load, little lube on the shell lifter after every stage in a (Continued on page 34 ) match. If the action gets sticky, I do a quick cleaning with Windex and a little more lube. In this case the lube was Ballistol. The .45s were tested on a Cimarron ’73 carbine with 19 " barrel. The .38s were tested on a Taylor’s ‘73 rifle with an 18.5 " barrel. Longer barrels would be - come fouled faster because the fouling will be at the muzzle end. The lube runs out in long barrels; hence the need for “Big Lube” bullets. The test took place in November at Cowtown in the Phoenix area. The temperature was in the low 70s, and humidity was 39%. I should also note no effort was made to “season” the barrel. Black powder works best if you don’t shoot anything but black powder in the gun. .45 Colt 200-grain Big Lube RNFP Bullets Big Lube bullets, strangely enough, have a big lube groove to hold more lube. This is really impor - tant with .45 Colt. The case holds a lot of powder, and

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Dispatches From Camp Baylor . . . (Continued from page 33) I would clean the chamber lifter every stage and run a Ballistol-lubed patch down the barrel at least every other stage. Two popular .38/.357 bullets for Cowboy Action Shooting™. I mention Ballistol because most black powder On the left is the 125-grain TCFP. It worked very well in the test. shooters use it. Many are convinced it is the only On the right is the 105-grain TCFP. It worked very well with American Pioneer Powder but not so well with Goex Cartridge. lube to use with wholly black. It is a very good lube. 200 gr. RNFP .45 Colt bullets of Goex FFg with filler (such as corn cob polishing This is the same shape and weight bullet but media to just below 1/8 " of the case mouth), com - with a normal lube groove. The difference in lube pressed by the bullet, make an acceptable SASS showed pretty quickly. The lever was sticky during load that will not foul the bore or the chamber and the second stage. I did the Windex/Ballistol routine. lifter nearly as quickly. The filler will scour the bore On the third stage the last four rounds were and lengthen the number of rounds that can be misses. I decided this was due to fouling and termi - used without cleaning. nated the test. 158 gr. RNFP .38/.357 bullets Verdict: Use the big lube bullets for real black. The load was 15 grains of Goex Cartridge, an - Use these for smokeless and American Pioneer other slightly compressed load with this bullet. On Powder and Triple Seven. the fourth stage misses started, eight on this stage. I will note that 15 grains of most black powders Despite this I tried once more and had six. After will pass the smoke standard. Fifteen grains-plus that I terminated the test. Verdict: Acceptable but not the best of the Ringer .38/.357 bullets for CAS. If I were using it I would do the Windex/Ballistol routine after every stage (I do on all my loads), and run a wet patch down the barrel after every stage. Most .38 shooters keep 158-grain full power loads in their gun carts for knockdowns. These would be excellent for that. My knockdowns are 158-grain Ringer bullets over full charges of American Pioneer Powder FFFg. 105 gr. TCFP .38/.357 bullets I used 17.5 grains of Goex Cartridge. Misses started on the third stage, and I terminated the test. This wasn’t surprising. The round has a short bearing surface and small lube groove. It also al - lows room for a lot of powder. So there’s a lot of powder without much resistance. This leads to a lot of fouling, and there’s no lube to soften it. Verdict: This is an excellent bullet for smokeless and American Pioneer Powder. Ringer sells it in 4000-round bulk packs in a flat rate box, making it economical. But don’t use this for wholly black. Use: 125 gr. TCFP .38/.357 bullets The load was 17 grains of Goex Cartridge. The lever was really sticky during the fourth stage, so I cleaned the shell lifter with Windex with Vinegar but didn’t use any oil. The fifth and sixth stages were

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Dispatches From Camp Baylor . . . (Continued from previous page) good, and there were no misses. The bore was very hard to clean, leading to the conclusion that a seventh stage would have been a stage too far. Even though it went six stages, I would run a wet patch down the bore every other stage or so. This is an excellent all around .38/.357 bullet for SASS, whether using black or smokeless or substitutes. Ringer’s offers 3500 round bulk packs in a medium USPS Flat Rate box. Current thinking on lead hardness is that cow - boy loads should be “softer” than full-power loads such as IPSC. The Brinell hardness of these bullets was 12. Lead Ringer said his 9mm, .40 caliber, and .45 ACP bullets are harder at 15. Ringer’s Bullets are all priced competitively. On - line ordering is simple, and credit cards are ac - Here 35 grains of Goex Cartridge is loaded under 200-grain bullets cepted, making purchasing easy. in .45 Colt cases. This is a slightly compressed load. This test also reminded me why I use American of my APP loads will go 12 stages in practice with Pioneer Powder for cartridges. It works with nothing but spraying the shell lifter with Windex, smokeless bullets. It also works with this lube. All and I wind up much cleaner. It’s all smoky.

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SHOTGUN BOOGIE

Larsen E. Pettifogger, UBERTI 73 T RIGGER i SASS Life #32933

hotgun Boogie is from Germany and you know By Larsen E. Pettifogger, the Germans. All his go-fast parts are ingen - SASS #32933 Life, Regulator Sious, well thought out, and they are precision made. Lots of folks have seen or own Boogie’s short stroke kits for Ruger revolvers. He has just started 3 making a new and innovative trigger replacement for the Uberti version of the Winchester 73. The kit con - sists of nine parts as shown in Photo 1. There are, left to right in the photo, a sear and lower trigger; a new trigger pivot pin and three ad - 1 justment screws; a trigger spring spacer and trig - ger spring; and a new safety lever 4 spring. Aside from a quality set of hollow ground gun screwdrivers (not screwdrivers from the dollar bin at Wal-Mart) and punches, the only other tool needed is a 1.5mm Allen wrench. Preferably an Allen wrench with a ball end. Photo 2. One of the things in the parts list is a new safety lever spring. Yep this kit is designed to retain the safety. Why is that? Photo 3 shows a very early original Winchester 73. Photo 4 shows an Uberti version of the 73. Behind the trigger on the Uberti, and on all later model orig - inal Winchesters, is a safety plunger. The trigger can - not be pulled until the lever has depressed the safety. This helps prevent premature or out-of-battery dis - 2 charges. The .44-40 cartridge for the “new” Winchester 73 was more powerful than the .44 Henry cartridge used in the Model 66 Winchester. More power required a more secure lockup of the toggle mechanism. More importantly, the new center fire ammunition was much easier to ignite that the older rim fire ammuni - tion. On the “new” ammo there was an anvil built into the primer so everything needed for ignition was in the primer. On rim fire ammunition, the case had to (Continued on next page) VISIT US AT SASSNET .COM Cowboy Chronicle January 2015 Page 37

Shotgun Boogie • Uberti 73 Trigger . . . position. Photo 6 shows the trigger at its forward (Continued from previous page) position. On this particular be crushed in order to ignite the primer charge. The gun there is almost 3/8ths breech served the purpose of an anvil for rim fire am - of an inch of trigger flop at munition and it was much harder to induce an out-of- the tip of the trigger. battery discharge on a 66. Early on, there began to be The Boogie kit is de - 6 problems with out-of-battery discharges with the new signed to mimic a one- center fire ammunition in the newly introduced Model piece trigger and eliminate trigger flop, yet still retain 73. This was before the days of product liability, yet the trigger safety. To install the trigger, the action has Winchester nevertheless decided the problem was se - to be completely disassembled. Remove the stock, the vere enough that it could be damaging to its reputa - slide plates and all the internal parts. This is as far tion, so it redesigned the trigger on the Model 73. In as most people go for routine maintenance of their addition to the trigger block, the new safety system 73s. However, the trig - used a two-piece trigger, ger mechanism has to with the sear being able to be removed for the in - pivot independently from stallation. Remove the the trigger. This creates a two screws at the rear problem for speed tuning a corners of the receiver. modern 73 for SASS com - Photo 7. Pull the lower petition. Photo 5 shows tang downward and 7 5 the trigger at its rearward (Continued on page 38 )

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Shotgun Boogie • Uberti 73 Trigger . . .

(Continued from page 37) separate the trig - the hammer. Photos 13 and 14. Next, ger housing from in the lower part of the trigger housing the receiver. Photo is the trigger spring and beneath it the 8. Photo 9 shows a close-up of the trig - ger safety. Note the 13 block hanging 8 down behind the trigger. When the safety is de - pressed, the block behind the trigger swings up and the trig - 9 ger can then be pulled. Photo 10. Next, remove the mainspring screws and mainspring. Photos 11 and 12. Knock out the hammer pivot pin and remove

14

10 safety lever spring. Photo 15. Remove the trigger spring screw and lift out the trigger spring and safety lever spring.

(Continued on next page) 11

15

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Shotgun Boogie • Uberti 73 Trigger . . . (Continued from previous page) nally, drive out the trigger pivot pin and remove the trigger and sear. Photos 21 and 22. 16 Now we can begin installation of the kit. Locate the trigger. The trigger has three tapped holes in it. Look - ing from the FRONT of the trigger the lower hole, Photo 23, is for adjusting the rearward travel of the trigger. Pick a LONG setscrew and screw it into the (Continued on page 40 )

17 Photos 16 and 17. (For those with sharp eyes they will notice this particular gun has a coil safety spring installed.) When assembled, the safety spring is below the trigger spring . Photo 18. We need to keep the 21 order of these parts in mind for proper reassembly. Next drive out the safety lever pivot pin and remove the safety lever. Photos 19 and 20. (These are the only parts that will be reused, so don’t lose them.) Fi -

18

22

23

19

20

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Shotgun Boogie • Uberti 73 Trigger . . . 29

(Continued from page 39)

26 24 parts into the trigger housing. First, locate the safety bar spring and install it and the safety bar into the trigger housing. The short hooked end goes over the safety bar and the safety bar pivot pin goes through the coil spring. Photo 30. Next take your old trig - ger pivot pin and shorten it to use as a slave pin for installing the 27 trigger and sear. The new precision 30 ground trigger pivot pin that comes in the kit and the slave pin are shown in Photo 31. Assemble the sear and trigger using the slave pin. Photo 32. Now you can 25 see the difference between the two triggers. The Boogie 31 trigger is flatter and wider 28 than the stock trigger. Pho - tos 33 and 34. (NOTE: the hole from the FRONT of final production triggers will be slightly more curved the trigger. Photo 24. than the trigger in the photos.) Install the trigger, The upper hole on the (Continued on next page) right, Photo 25, is for ad - justing how far the trig - ger can travel forward. 32 33 Find a LONG setscrew and install it from the REAR of the trigger. Photo 26. Finally, the hole on the upper left of the trigger, Photo 27, adjusts sear engagement. Install the SHORT setscrew into this hole from the FRONT of the trigger. Photo 28. Photo 29 shows the shoulder that this screw presses against to adjust sear engagement. Now we are ready to start installing the

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Shotgun Boogie • Uberti 73 Trigger . . .

(Continued from previous page) 38

34 39

in the notch and tighten the trigger screw. Photo 38. Now that the new trigger parts are installed, it is time to adjust them for proper operation. A word of caution, the parts MUST be adjusted in 35 a precise order. The screws are visible only a portion of the time so they must be adjusted as follows. First, (Continued on page 42 )

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align the holes in the trigger and housing and tap the trigger pin in one side and the slave pin will come out the other side. Photo 35. Next, look at the new trigger spring. It has a downward curve. Make sure to install it with the tip of the spring facing down. Photo 36. Remember that when we disassembled the trigger housing the old trigger safety spring was underneath the trigger. Photo 18. There is a spacer washer in the kit to make up for the elimination of the old spring. Install the screw through the new trigger spring and make sure the washer is placed under the spring. Photo 37. The back of the sear has a shelf with a notch in it. Make sure the tip of the trigger spring is

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Shotgun Boogie • Uberti 73 Trigger . . .

(Continued from page 41) adjust the rearward travel of the trigger. Insert the Allen wrench into the upper Allen screw that is visible from the REAR of the trigger. Photo 39. This is where the ball end Allen wrench comes in handy. There is very little clearance between the screw and the safety bar. When the adjustment is begun there will be a space between the back of the trigger and the front of the safety bar. Photo 40. Turn the screw until the 41 safety bar just clears the trigger and moves freely up

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42 and down. Photo 41. Next install the hammer and mainspring. Move the hammer back and forth a little, push up the safety bar and pull the trigger until the

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two trigger screws on the front of the trigger become visible. Photo 42. Insert the Allen wrench into the UPPER screw and adjust sear engagement. Photo 43 shows the sear fully engaged in the full cock notch. (Continued on next page) VISIT US AT SASSNET .COM Cowboy Chronicle January 2015 Page 43

Shotgun Boogie • Uberti 73 Trigger . . . (Continued from previous page)

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push in the safety bar and pull the trigger until the lower adjusting screw is visible in the front of the trig - (The large notch higher up on the hammer is the half ger. Photo 45. Insert the Allen wrench (try using the cock notch.) After sear engagement is set, pull the short end of the Allen wrench as it provides more trigger to make sure the safety bar stops the trigger clearance for this screw) and adjust the forward travel and the hammer does not fall. Photo 44. If the ham - of the trigger. Photo 46. You want to adjust the trig - mer falls, readjust the sear and/or trigger rear travel ger so that when the trigger is pulled the sear tip just screw(s) until everything operates properly. Finally, (Continued on page 44 )

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Shotgun Boogie • Uberti 73 Trigger . . .

(Continued from page 43) clears the full cock notch. Photo 47. It should be noted that when everything is ad - 47 justed properly the half-cock notch will not engage or will 48 not fully engage. This is nor - mal; it should not engage and will not affect operation of the trigger. Remember, SASS rifles are staged with an empty chamber and the hammer down. The half cock is never used. If you want to go full BOOGIE you can weld up the half cock and grind and polish the front of the hammer to a smooth, clean surface. Photo 48. What does all this work get us? It gets us a very crisp, precise trigger while maintaining the trigger safety block. Photo 49 shows the trigger with the hammer cocked. Photo 50 shows the trigger pulled

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and the hammer down. The amount of trigger travel to release the sear is reduced and there is virtually (Continued on next page)

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Shotgun Boogie • Uberti 73 Trigger . . .

(Continued from previous page)

Over 11,000 i tems

50 no trigger over travel. A final note: I would advise first time installers to put all the parts in the trigger housing and liter - ally play with it for a while. Move all the screws in and out to become familiar with what they do and how they affect the motion of the trigger. After you are thoroughly familiar with the kit parts and how they operate, THEN take everything apart and apply blue or purple Loctite to the setscrews and in - stall everything and adjust them. After the Loctite has set, you will have virtually a single-piece trigger and it should stay in adjustment indefinitely. The kit sent express from Germany is $189.00. It can be ordered directly from Shotgun Boogie at boo [email protected].

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APACHES VICTORIO AND GERONIMO KEPT THE MILITARY ON THE MOVE

By Craig Springer posse of armed citizens from Hillsboro led by town pioneers, Joe Yankie and Nicholas Galles, con - fronted Apaches at H.D. McEver’s ranch 15 miles south of Hillsboro. McEver’s ranch would shortly become the first town site of Lake Valley (not the current site) following a significant silver strike. The number of Hillsboro men engaged in the bat - tle vary, as do the number killed, depending on which report you read. The event has been referred

Three of these men were at the 1879 and 1885 ambushes and raids around Hillsboro. The Apaches were imprisoned in Alabama before going to Ft. Sill OK. Courtesy Alabama State Archives. he date, September 11, is seared in American Tmemory. It is a date perhaps not forgotten by those who lived in and around Hillsboro, New Mex - ico, from 1879 through the mid-1880s. In August 1879, the Apache leader Victorio launched a rampage that made its mark in history. Markers for men killed on September 18, 1879, at Massacre Canyon. Victorio, followed by tens if not hundreds of disen - The site is 22 miles from pavement in the Gila National Forest chanted Apaches, raided ranches and isolated mil - northeast of Hillsboro, NM. itary outposts in southern New Mexico, west Texas, to as the Hillsboro Massacre, perhaps owing to the and northern Chihuahua. On September 11, a fact no other towns existed then; Hillsboro being only two years old itself, and that all of the de - ceased lived in the nascent community. A review of the literature reveals that anywhere from a half dozen to 15 men were killed in action. The 1880 Sec - retary of War’s report to Congress offers some in - sight as to the geographic extent of the Apache depredations. As for those known to have been killed at McEver’s in September 1879, the report recognized: “Steve Hanlon, Thomas Hughes, Thor - ton, Preissier, Green, Dr. William, killed in action at McEver’s Ranch. Refugia Arvies and Jose Morena, killed in action at [nearby] Arroyo Seco; I. Chaves also killed in action at McEver’s Ranch.” The num - (Continued on next page)

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Apaches Victorio and Geronimo Kept The Military On The Move . . .

(Continued from previous page) tag given to the enterprise. The original “opera - ber of Indians killed, if any, is tion Geronimo” went down in southern New not documented. Mexico 129 years ago, with there being signifi - Apache historians of renown, cant U.S. Army and Apache activity. The threat Dan Thrapp, Edwin Sweeney, of loss of life and property by Apaches around and Joseph Stout make mention Hillsboro was significant on a number of occa - of an entire ranch family mur - sions from 1877 until 1886, such that commerce dered and mutilated on Jar - and travel were conducted at great risk. Ob - alosa Creek a mere mile or two servers at the time commented that Apache from McEver’s ranch that same depredations prostrated the mining industry at day. The names of those victims Hillsboro and Lake Valley. Nick Galles, survivor are not reported, but those who of ambushes on The Apache named Goyakla, or “One Who witnessed the carnage and who September 11 and 18, 1879. Yawns,” was nicknamed “Geronimo” by the Mex - probably helped bury the dead reported what they ican military when he saw at the time. escaped injury in gun McEver’s would see more action. Apaches at - fire, the Mexican sol - tacked McEver’s ranch again in October, and diers evoking the name of St. Jerome for the Apache’s remarkable luck in cheating death. “Geronimo” became an American war cry dur - ing World War II. Men at a heliograph The U.S. Army put (mirror station) at Camp Hillsboro considerable resources (later called Camp Boyd) about on the ground to capture September 1885 during the or kill the Apache pal - Geronimo Campaign. Mirrors were used to communicate long distances. adin and his lieutenant, Courtesy Black Range Museum. Naiche, the son of Cochise. Geronimo’s last outbreak from the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation oc - curred in 1885 and lasted until his surrender in the fall of 1886. Some of those U.S. Army resources were Site of September11, 1879, battle near Hillsboro, New Mexico. at Camp Hillsboro, the named later changed to burned down its buildings. Because of its location, (Continued on page 48 ) central to Ft. Cummings to the south and Camp French located in Hillsboro the summer of 1880, and then Camp Hillsboro/Camp Boyd in 1885-86, McEver’s ranch site would be occupied by the U.S. Army for much of the Victorio and the Geronimo campaigns. The beleaguered site found on period maps is today a pleasant ranch on a small open plain along NM 27, on private property. As coincidence would have it, September 11, 1885, would be another dark day. Unless you live a hermit’s life, you no doubt heard that Navy Seals evoked the name of Geronimo in its designs to kill Osama bin Laden. “Operation Geronimo” was the

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Apaches Victorio and Geronimo Kept The Military On The Move . . .

(Continued from page 47) Camp Boyd to honor fallen officer Orsemus Boyd. The camp was located about a mile north of today’s Hillsboro post office, now a private ranch. Companies of infantry and cavalry were sta - tioned for about a year—mid-1885 until September of 1886—at Camp Hillsboro. “Operation Geronimo,” the one that unfolded in Pakistan, was criticized as being insensitive to Native Americans for relating the Apache to bin Laden. Understandably, Native Americans, especially those who have proudly served in the U.S. military would rather not be viewed as in league as with an avowed enemy of the U.S. Witness New Mexico and Arizona’s own Navajo Code Talkers who were vital in the Pacific theatre in World War II. But you cannot ignore the historical significance Eighth US Cavalry on patrol from Camp Hillsboro that Geronimo had locally—and nationally. Thou - (later called Camp Boyd), about September, 1885. Courtesy Black Range Museum. sands of soldiers, both American and Mexican, were put on the ground in his pursuit. Hundreds of peo - some of whom were stationed in Hillsboro. Geron - ple died in the Geronimo campaign and other no - imo murdered and kidnapped White, Hispanic, and table conflicts with Apache men, both his Apache people—men, women, and young children. contemporaries, and in the years before him: He kidnapped Chief Loco’s band and ensured that Ulzana, Chihuahua, Victorio, Nana, Cochise, Man - eventually all of the Chiricahua Apaches would be gas. Civilians, soldiers, and Apaches were victims treated as prisoners of war, and removed to Florida, of the violence. Geronimo was not only an enemy to and eventually Oklahoma by way of a stay in Ala - the U.S. military; he was an enemy of some of his bama. The condition of the then imprisoned own Apache people. Companies of enlisted Apaches, Apaches at Ft. Sill is surveyed in the recently pub - led by U.S. Army officers chased after Geronimo, lished book, Chief Loco: Apache Peacemaker, writ - ten by a descendant of the Apache leader. Geronimo lamented late in life that he had no friends among his own people. Though the Geronimo Trail Na - tional Scenic Byway slices through Kingston and Hillsboro, perhaps the man’s most significant pres - ence was made near Lake Valley. On September 10, 1885, Geronimo’s band moved over Macho Canyon and shot rancher Brady Pollock twice, then crushed his head with a boulder. On - ward the Apaches went, north to McKnight Ranch on Berrenda Creek where they stole horses. Geron - imo made it over the Mimbres Mountains to the west, probably going over the pass at the head of today’s Pollock Canyon and down Gavilan Canyon. On September 11 more would die. By noon, Avaristo Abeyta, George Horn, and 17-year-old Martin McKinn were dead, just over the Black (Continued on next page) VISIT US AT SASSNET .COM Cowboy Chronicle January 2015 Page 49

Apaches Victorio and Geronimo Kept The Military On The Move . . .

(Continued from previous page)

Site of September 18, 1879, battle at Massacre Canyon. The flag is Craig Springer’s. Three black Buffalo soldiers and two Navajo Scouts are buried here. There could be other unknown soldiers or Apache buried here. Range from Kingston. The teenager’s younger brother, nine-year-old Santiago “Jimmy” McKinn witnessed Geronimo crush his brother’s head and then don his brother’s jacket. With little Jimmy McKinn, Geronimo headed into the Black Range, chased by cavalry and a militia from Hillsboro, headed by Nicholas Galles and Frank W. Parker, the latter a future Supreme Court justice. As a testament to endurance and just plain pluck, Victorio and Geronimo evaded capture. Vic - torio died in battle with the Mexican military in October 1880. Geronimo was the last to give in to the concentration policies of the U.S. government. The McKinn boy remarkably survived and was re - turned to his parents when Geronimo surrendered when the original “operation Geronimo” came to a close in September 1886, many lives lost, many lives ruined. (Craig Springer is the co-author of Around Hills - boro . He and his wife own the HistoricMillerHouse.com formerly owned by Justice Parker, and built by Ni - cholas Galles, both participants in the Apache wars.)

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2014 Scholarship Recipient Pujo the Kid, SASS #84148 I recently completed my Edited & Adapted by Justice Lily Kate, SASS #1000 third year of college at Mc - Justice Lily Kate, Neese State University lo - SASS #1000 cated in Lake Charles, where I am pursuing a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering. Addition - ally, I am gaining experience in my field of study by in - terning with an environmental consulting firm. My future plans are to obtain my degree and acquire addi - tional experience for the first few years, and then I plan to work out of the country in various locations such as Saudi Arabia or Germany, so I can have the opportunity to see other parts of the world. After a few years of ex - ploring different countries, I plan to return home, get hitched, find a nest, and start a family down here in the Great South. Once my future kids get old enough, I want them to live life like my parents taught me: good work ethic, good thinking skills, and guns in hand. The most influential person in my life is my Dad, the not-so-swift Graybow Slim. He has taught me many lessons throughout my life, such as how to shoot; however, the two most important lessons in life that I have learned from him are to work hard for what I want and to be able to think for myself. Gray - bow has always told me I have the ability to control my life, and while there certainly are many situations that will be out of my control, I am my own person and no one else’s. He has often told me, “If there’s some - thing you want in life, figure out how to get it, work hard to get it, and do not rely on a handout.” This is not just a quote I like to tell people, this is a belief by eRidder, LA. My name is Cody Dean Eaves, which I live my life. Over the years, my father has alias Pujo the Kid, SASS #84148, and I am helped me become a well-rounded individual who can Dhonored to have been selected to receive a work hard as well as work smart. SASS Scholarship Foundation Grant for the 2014- Another person who has supported me in all of my 2015 academic year. My parents are my Dad, Graybow decisions is my girlfriend (and future wife) Delaney Slim (SASS #58739) aka Darrell Eaves, my Mom, Dupin. She is very eager to start joining me in SASS Sharon Eaves, and my sister, Ashley Eaves. The rest as she has always had the desire to shoot but hasn’t of my family who supported me through the years in - had the chance yet. I can’t wait for her to accompany cludes: paternal grandparents, James M. Eaves, Sr. me throughout the rest of my life and the rest of my and the late Maxine Eaves; and maternal grandpar - SASS matches. I would also like to give a shout out to ents, Dean and Cathy Burns. My home SASS club is Cajun Queen (SASS #75177), Possum Skinner (SASS the Up the Creek Gang, located in Lake Charles, LA, #60697), Crosscut Hardy (SASS #54701), Chatta - and I also shoot with the Orange County Regulators hoochee (SASS #39557), Texas Gator (SASS #74485), located in Orange, TX. (Continued on next page) VISIT US AT SASSNET .COM Cowboy Chronicle January 2015 Page 51

2014 Scholarship recipient • Pujo the Kid, SASS #84148 . . . (Continued from previous page) western guns in my cowboy attire brings me peace be - and the rest of the gang for all of the support and cause “a bad day at the range is better than a good day great advice they have given me over the years. at work.” SASS/Cowboy Action Shooting™ is much more Some of the academic accomplishments that I am than a hobby to me because not only has it helped out most proud of are making the honor roll at McNeese financially during my college career, it has enriched State University every semester and being selected my life with some of the kindest people I have ever for Alpha Lambda Delta, a National College Academic met. The people I shoot with are always willing to help Honor Society. I am also proud and thankful to have one another out with more than just their guns. My been selected to receive a SASS Scholarship Founda - fellow SASS members are very welcoming and easy tion Grant for four years. going, and they have always been there to help me, on The SASS Scholarship has played a key role in and off the range. Cowboy Action Shooting™ has helping me achieve my educational goals. Attending taught me discipline and patience because becoming college is expensive with the rising cost of fees, books, a better shooter takes lots of practice, without getting meals, and housing. Receiving this scholarship light - too frustrated since you never want to be short-tem - ens my financial burden and allows me to focus more pered while holding a gun. Above all that, Cowboy Ac - on the most important aspect of college, learning. tion Shooting™ is a chance for me to escape all of the Thank you to all who have supported the Fund and negativity and relax. Something about shooting those continue to make SASS Scholarships possible. Would Banning All Guns Work?

By Pujo the Kid, SASS #84148 Edited & Adapted by Justice Lily Kate, SASS #1000

es, a gun ban would work in an ideal world. have to make a choice to keep my gun and be viewed Then again, in an ideal world there is no crime as a criminal because of living in a rural area far and no need for protection. Yet anyone with a from law enforcement where a gun is needed for pro - little bit of knowledge and intelligence knows that this tection. Speaking of law enforcement, would the gun isY not how the real world works. Many gun control ac - ban apply to them? If this ban extended to law en - tivists believe that banning all guns would lead to no forcement, their option to protect themselves and the crimes being committed with guns; however, this is not community would be at a great disadvantage. Ac - the case as it would create a huge black market for the cording to a recent article in The New York Times , illegal sale of guns and lead to an increase in crime. Chicago had over five hundred homicides from gun If it became a crime to own a gun, then only crim - violence (and more than seven thousand illegal guns inals would own them; therefore, a gun ban would were seized) in 2012, even though it has some of the result in more crime. This is partly because a gun strictest gun control laws (Davey). Consequently, ban would create an imbalance in the ownership of there would be an increase in crime from a ban on guns between criminals and law-abiding citizens. guns because all of the guns would be in the hands Since most criminals do not own legal guns, a ban on of criminals, leaving law-abiding citizens and law en - guns would not encourage them to turn in their forcement unarmed and vulnerable. weapons. If law-abiding citizens were forced to turn Since there would still be a demand for guns, a in their guns, they would become “sitting ducks” for gun ban would create a massive black market for the the armed criminal because the citizens would be sale of illegal guns. Looking back in history should perceived as unarmed and defenseless. Some law- keep us from repeating mistakes. For instance, dur - abiding citizens would see no alternative but to keep ing Prohibition in the 1920s, alcohol was made illegal, their guns and be in violation of the law, making resulting in an enormous black market and a huge themselves criminals too. In my own case, I would (Continued on page 52 )

VISIT US AT SASSNET .COM Cowboy Chronicle Page 52 January 2015 but instead create a black market larger than the one during Prohibition and impossible to police. A repercussion of a gun ban would be the elimi - nation of some of the traditions on which this coun - try was founded, such as hunting and shooting sports, and also the issue of gun safety. When our Would Banning All Guns Work? country was founded, our forefathers grew up using (Continued from page 51) guns not just for protection but primarily to put increase in crime and corruption, all related to the meat on the table, and this tradition of hunting that ban on alcohol. Therefore, through trial and error, has been passed down from generations would be America found out that bans do not work, yet gun abolished by a gun ban and erode family traditions. control activists want to eliminate all guns as if it Furthermore, a gun ban would eliminate the ques - would stop all gun related crimes similar to how Pro - tion of who is the best and fastest shot since shooting hibition was supposed to stop alcohol sales. Addition - competitions would be outlawed. No one would be ally, England exemplifies how a black market for able to enjoy shooting sports as a favorite pastime; firearms is created from having very stringent gun therefore, shooting organizations such as SASS and laws, and according to England’s National Crime In - Cowboy Action Shooting™ would no longer exist. telligence Service, “…[I]t appears that anyone who Without guns to teach gun safety, people would wishes to obtain a firearm [illegally] will have little only learn the use of guns from watching old movies difficulty in doing so” ( Hehmeyer). Albert Einstein and television shows where the guns never misfire, has been attributed with saying insanity is “doing jam, or run out of ammo. Despite the fact that there the same thing over and over again and expecting are supposed to be no guns in a gun ban, people might different results.” Thus, attempting to enforce an - still accidentally come across a gun and would be in other ban such as a gun ban would prove Einstein’s danger from not knowing how to handle it properly. point about the insanity of repeating history. Hence, Even though I was taught gun safety by my father, a gun ban would not diminish the demand for guns (Continued on next page)

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Goose Creek Jack, SASS #61353 ~ May 7, 1937 – September 28, 2013 ~ ayne T. Miller, alias Goose Creek Jack, was born in shell belt, cowboy cuffs, spur straps, WHarrisonburg, VA, May 7 1937, the only son of a and even gave me a Jesse James .45. cattle farmer. He went to school in Harrisonburg, and We went to Cowboy matches every after graduation he enlisted in the Navy, where he served third Sunday for about three years. for six years. He then held various jobs around Harrison - His health declined over the burg, including Carpenter, store clerk, and truck driver. years, and on October 4, 2009, he He played a base guitar and went professional with a went to the Veterans Hospital in Nashville singer, Red Selvine. He traveled with the band Martinsburg, WV. To my knowl - for fourteen years and went practically everywhere. You edge, Goose Creek never won a could not mention any place he had not been. match, but he always said it’s not After he retired from the band, he moved to about winning, it’s about having Staunton, VA. He worked at Dominion Outdoors gun fun. He did have a lot of clean matches, and a lot of fun. shop and sports center. That’s where I first met Goose After he got real sick, he wouldn’t answer his phone. Creek. I was looking for a gun and mentioned Cowboy You would only get his message: “Leave your number Action Shooting™. That was enough to get him talking and call you when I get back.” He never made it back. about Cowboy matches. He was shooting with the Blue He died September 28, 2013, a victim of bone marrow Ridge Regulators in Lexington, Virginia. I went with cancer, along with other complications. To my knowl - him and began Cowboy Action Shooting™ in 2006. edge, he had one daughter, but he didn’t know where Goose Creek showed me everything. He had more cow - she lived. He left behind a lot of Cowboy friends and boy equipment than anyone I knew. good time memories for us all. He also did leather work and was good at it. He made Gone, but not forgotten. me a set of double holsters and belt, loading block, shotgun —Mekpique Bill, Sass#43274

for law-abiding citizens to defend themselves, they Would Banning All Guns Work? would have to illegally obtain a firearm and be con - (Continued from previous page) sidered criminals themselves. Our forefathers shooting in SASS and Cowboy Action Shooting™ fought the Revolution against a government that where you have someone watch you load, shoot, and would not listen to the people and trampled their unload, has brought gun safety to an even higher level rights, and then they established the foundation for for me. For example, when moving on a stage with my our country with the Constitution and Bill of Rights. open and empty shotgun, I must watch the muzzle so Will banning all guns erode the individual rights that I do not break the 170-degree rule. Thus, because our forefathers fought and died for, and cause us to of a gun ban, people would no longer be able to enjoy repeat history again with another revolution? hunting and shooting sports and learn the value of Works Cited: properly handling firearms, which would further de - Davey, Monica. “Strict Gun Laws in Chicago Can’t stroy the traditions of our great country. Stem Fatal Shots.” New York Times . New York To sum up, stopping all gun related crimes is Times, 29 Jan. 2013. Web. 1 Feb. 2014. what gun control activists expect with a gun ban, Einstein, Albert. Brainyquote.com . Brainy Quote, but in reality, it would increase crime as well as cre - n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2014. ate an enormous black market for the illegal sale of Hehmeyer, Carol and Don Kates. “Nation’s Rates guns. Being able to protect one’s home and family Of Private Gun Ownership Do Not Correlate To would be in jeopardy because of a gun ban leaving Rates Of Murder.” Daily Journal , 29 Sept. 2008. the guns only in the hands of criminals, and in order Gunowners.org . Web. 12 Jan. 2014.

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COMIC BOOK CORNER ! umper, introduced in this story, would be The name was Reliapon BBlack Diamond’s sidekick for years to come. (get it?). Observant readers will note that our hero’s horse In our next issue, has not yet been referred to by name, and that is we’ll explore a different comic book title part of the $1,500 prize contest announced on the from the 1940s. The page images used in Comic cover. Readers were encouraged to submit a name, Book Corner are courtesy of the website, with the grand prize being $1,000—a not insignif - http://comicbookplus.com . Their free site features icant amount in 1949. Runner-up prizes totaling more than 28,000 public domain comic books of all $500 in value were also up for grabs. The winning genres, not just Westerns.

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Jesse Wolf Hardin By Jesse Wolf Hardin w Art by Jesse Wolf Hardin ! behind, a place of git-fid - Welcome to our new column. Kindly check your dles, sunbonnets, cowboy assumptions at the door, and wear your irons in hats, and fine old arms. plain sight. It was, after all, guns as Part I: Guns Have Stories, So Let ‘em Talk much as courage, will, and “It was a land that had to be seen to be believed, determination that won and perhaps it has to be believed in to be seen.” our freedom on the field of — N. Scott Momaday battle, supplied the meat that sustained the earliest o, it’s not just your imagination! Even in the of - explorers of this continent’s fice, the coffee shop, the living room, you can interior, was appropriated almost hear it if you listen carefully enough: by the Native Americans N The Old West spirit lives on, the approach of galloping horses, the distant ring of setting an example for our own for their own assertive de - gunfire and the acrid smell of black-powder residue. It honorable lives and wild adventures. fense, accompanied miners is not hallucination on our parts, but the irrepressible and gamblers and soiled doves in the “civilizing” of the world of our history and of our dreams, what we are West. Looking at an ingenious if inaccurate Allen Pep - made of as people, and the possibilities of what we too perbox, it’s none too difficult to picture the hand-tai - can become. It delivers to us not wistful sentiment but lored coat pockets it once inhabited, likely silk-lined inspiration and imperative, the beckoning call to a and worn over a buttoned wool vest. Picture the bumpy more authentic, vital and honorable way of being and ride heading out of St. Louis in the entertainment car living made visible as we squinch our eyes and look of a smoke-billowing train, or in leather lined coaches real hard. It rises forth from the mists of our society’s pulled by a brace of heavy horses. Pick up an old sin - lamentable forgetting, as from the smoky swirls issu - gle-shot rifle, and then imagine its bluing being rubbed ing from rock-lined campfires, the steam blown out the off on countless belly-filling hunts. Palm a tiny Rem - bottoms of resting narrow-gauge locomotives, the ington Vest Pocket pistol, and it’s immediately clear it opaque exhaust coiling upwards from saloon cigars, was better suited for carry in a garter, being unman - and those thin white clouds snaking out of the bores ageable in the hands of most men. We wonder what of sated Colts and Remingtons and Smith & Wessons. unwanted moves such a minuscule companion might A majority of our modern civilized kind may have have diverted, inspiring some cad’s blood to shift from disregarded history and its poignant lessons, rele - his less relevant loins, into his racing head and feet. gated the code of the West to video games and books, According to my way of figuring, to disregard or dis - and surrendered both their right to self-defense and respect old guns is to disrespect or disregard the exis - their wildest hopes in order to get by and fit in… but tence and efforts of those who long ago employed them, not so, ourselves! As fond as we might be of some of to undervalue their tears of loss and shouts of joy, their our century’s advantages and innovations, we are ir - difficult struggles and not always graceful ends. An resistibly drawn by what we know to be, in reality, a arm is at worst a telltale instrument of avarice, aggres - world of adventure, a place of freedom-intolerant sion, or, all too often, governmental oppression. And at fences… and an alternate vision where being a “char - best, an old gun is a legible testament to self respect, acter” is rewarded instead of punished, where one is self defense, and devotion to family, to the process of fairly tested with an equal opportunity to become a putting our lives on the line for what we value most hero in the eyes of the dusty little children following (Continued on page 70 ) VISIT US AT SASSNET .COM Cowboy Chronicle January 2015 Page 69

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The Straight Shot . . . Handling any old piece, one literally holds history. It is a history of largely common citizens, herders (Continued from page 68) and sod busters, mercantile managers and mule and the willingness to risk death in order to be fully, skinners, townsfolk and country folk drawn to a long responsibly and responsively alive. Guns have served arm or handgun that caught the eye and filled the the ways and wiles of men unapologetically for cen - hand, then carrying it for real use in the very real turies, in the scabbards of horseback riders, in the world. Long after the smoke has cleared, we can still hands of the hungry young, and next to the kitchen hear the echo of rounds expended at measured tar - doors of aging homesteaders, in the holsters of law - gets and at game, often in pleasure and occasionally men, patriots and scoundrels, in the pockets of timid in righteous anger. The reverberations continue still, clerks, and the fur muffs of willful maidens. existing as we do in a land that is the product of its past, largely shaped by human vision, tempered by struggle, and tested under fire. Old guns are stories from a book of living history, held open to the page by the weight of their undiminished presence. They’re the accoutrements of our reenactments of more exciting and promising days, and the only tan - gible guarantors of our personal liberty and family safety today. They’re the firsthand witnesses to both personal and global drama, the telltale tools of the evolving human experience, and potentially our The Winchester Model 1866 conveys not only elegance and inanimate but consequential friends when in need. efficiency, but America’s most personal and heroic histories. You’ve likely heard the expression, “If only guns could talk, what a tale they could tell.” So consider this column but another chance to give those vener - able irons their say.

Old guns can awaken a love of history in the young.

“Perhaps… it’s just the simple desire to have some part of our heart remain that of a child’s, one who doesn’t yet know that you can’t always reach the stars, or, at the very least, ride beneath them wherever you want to go.” — Emmy Lou Harris

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The Straight Shot . . . downstream it irrigates the hayfields of the WS Ranch— one of Butch Cassidy’s old haunts. We’re a day’s ride (Continued from previous page) from hundreds of historic shootouts and battles includ - I suppose a short introduction is in order now. I ing the Lincoln County War, Geronimo and Victorio’s grew up with a glad ache for the frontier past, for nat - raids, the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, and Pancho Villa’s ural places and wagon traces. I wore “cowboy” booties attack on Columbus, as well as the cities of El Paso and before I knew what either a cow or a boy was. The Albuquerque, where an aging and impoverished Buffalo highlight of all my many trips to the shopping mall Bill performed on his final tour of the West. came when Hopalong Cassidy showed up to sign en - thused children’s autographs. My desire to stay up until 10:00 p.m. came from wanting to be awake to watch an episode of the television show Bonanza Author Jesse Wolf Hardin now lives on an elk refuge again. And I never quit straining at the reins, until at close to the site of the age 25 I bought and settled into the kind of special Elfego Baca shootout, place I’d grown up longing for. It’s here where I’ve Reserve, NM. learned what it is to be really, fully alive… and it is here that I someday will die. I am fortunate to live less than 100 yards away from Note that it isn’t called the “Wild West” for nothing! a river made sacred by the ancient Mogollon Indians, The word “wild” stems from the archaic “wilder,” which that was once stalked by the Apache “renegade” Victorio means “raw and untamed.” The land and creatures ex - and hunted by the famous Ben Lilly. It flows past the isting outside the proscribed certainty of our early scene of Elfego Baca’s heroic stand shortly before pass - walled urban centers, our original native context—the ing through our property, and only 20 miles further (Continued on page 72 )

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The Straight Shot . . . hear or read is so depressing that I thirstily seek both (Continued from page 71) refuge and inspiration in the stories, the freedoms and opportunities of those who came before us. nurturing, formative and informative wilderness. The intensity and strength of American wild lands were traits readily embodied by native tribes, and emulated by the mountain men and settlers who followed. The original American strength of character was a product of that close-to-nature lifestyle, of the frontiers where few at first dared to tread. Our predecessors, however, weren’t intent on look - ing back to some previous “golden age,” nor were they focused on the artifacts and arms of an earlier era. They lived and fought for the experiences and rewards of an intensely invigorating, adventurous present. And so can we! Cowboys, Indians and outlaws alike were generally outfitted with the best bedroll they could afford, and the most proficient firearms they could find, while paradoxically, we oddballs and anachronisms of the 21st Century are often happiest carrying and shooting the historic arms our forebears left behind. Like most of you fellers, the news that I

A man and his daughter, with a shotgun for protection and hunting close by.

“Aww, let’s just remember the GOOD times!” —Merle Haggard (famous country singer whom I overheard, after his bass player pointed out the mis - takes in their show)

When Skinny gave me the go-ahead for this se - ries of articles, I was not only tickled and pleased but verily relieved. Relieved I tell you, because such a large amount of my professional writing these days has been about medicinal herbs. Not that healing oneself and one’s family wasn’t com - monplace on the American frontier, where doctors (Continued on next page)

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The Straight Shot . . .

(Continued from previous page) were few and far between and drugs to heal you (much like these days) often did as much harm as good. It’s just that the good folks who are attracted to herbalism can be a bit on the extreme side of goodly, often deeply sympathetic healers with an aversion to harm, to violence, and hence to the un - thinking firearms that are too readily blamed for the acts of thinking men. To maintain some bal - ance in my often-unbalanced life, I spent the last year simultaneously writing books on both The Healing Terrain, for the students of herbalism, and Lawmen of The Old West Unmasked, for the afi - cionados of true Western characters and events. Every quarter, as my wife and I work on producing another issue of our Plant Healer Magazine, I try to make sure we have at least one contributor who is an omnivore and hunter, or a certain gun-savvy, bald headed ex-military herbalist who sends us pieces on medical self sufficiency and service in a post-disaster and post-meltdown scenario. And every month when I have penned a full meal of words on the importance of nature’s medicine for our free Herbaria Newsletter, I will now have ben - efit of this SASS counterbalance, putting together another gun-happy “Straight Shot” column for you faithful Cowboy Chronicle readers. Note that while I do insane amounts of research in order to come up with new information and an - gles, I nonetheless write not as a scholar but as an impulsive recanter, an obsessive teller of tales who takes inordinate pleasure in exposing the mean - ders and intersects of the ever evolving human story. And the reason real life makes such a great story is that it isn’t “black and white,” it involves painful paradox, uncertainty and ambivalence as well as assuredness and righteousness. It is its dramatizing of the benefits, the costs and the un - expected ramifications of every choice made. It is said that one must learn from history in order to avoid repeating its mistakes… and it is in the twists that we inevitably find our greatest lessons. I’m fascinated by the reasons why people risked their lives to wander with no more than a good shotgun and rifle into unmapped and unpre - dictable new places. I’m interested in what made

(Continued on page 74 )

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The Straight Shot . . . cage-rattling books: Lawmen of The Old West Un - (Continued from page 73) masked and Old Guns & Whispering Ghosts, with adjustments and additions to keep them edgy and one-time outlaws settle down and take jobs as fresh. And for those among you who might already frontier marshals and sheriffs, or what inspired own both, I will be penning some entirely new professional “law-dogs” to hang up their badge and pieces that I hope you’ll enjoy, not just about his - enter into a life of crime. In these columns we will tory and guns but also what the Old West ways of explore not only the history and use of specific living can tell us about our own era, situations, firearms from the most popular the rare and ar - values, and purposes. cane, but also the lives of the men and women who Now let us quiet for a moment our busied mod - carried and used them. This will likely include the ern minds, halt the mad rush of “progress” long struggles against the railroads and banks by the enough to notice the cool touch of a spectral wind under fed and the fed-up poor… and what kind of on our westward-gazing faces, to perhaps better emotional state might cause a hounded John Wes - sense the not always simple or easy lessons resi - ley Hardin to stand with his back to the barroom dent in our vintage arms, and to realize that things door. The necessity and morality of self-defense, are not always clear cut, not always as they seem. and risking one’s life for a belief or cause. Together With this column I join you around a common fire, we’ll take a deeper look at the implications of loy - on a grand adventure to learn to be as joyous and alties and alliances, attitudes and beliefs, preju - irrepressible as kids again, doing whatever it takes dice and race, and the mindset of the pistol packin’ to fulfill our dreams, doing our individual best to prostitute, hiding her sorrows behind her laughter always be “straight shooters.”

and a thickly painted face. We’ll empathize with Ssshh! There’s a wilder spirit entering the room

what were in some ways a sad and tragic lot: those that some might have thought was missin’. If we’re who moved West to escape the confinement and q to discern its whispered tales, it’s always best wq e conformity of swelling seaboard cities, then found stop and listen. they’d inadvertently helped subjugate and tame the very challenges, magic, and wildness that they’d sought. In the coming issues of the Cowboy Chronicle, I’ll be drawing material for this column from two of my many poorly under-distributed but (happily)

Jesse Wolf Hardin is a wilderness-dwelling writer, artist, arms collector, coeditor of Plant Healer Magazine for stu - dents of herbal medicine (see: www.PlantHealer.org ), and author of dozens of books including the full-color Old Guns Author & Whispering Ghosts: Firearms of the Old West & Those Jesse Wolf Hardin Who Used Them, 1866-1916, and the conversation-stirring is devoted to Lawmen of The Old West Unmasked, available through: bringing western www.OldWestScribe.com . Hardin’s work has garnered the history to life. respect of men like John Taffin, Boge Quinn, Jim Supica, Doug Turnbull, Ned Schwing, Dennis Adler, and Bob Boze Bell, while verily confounding the politically correct. You can send indignant comments or letters of support directly to Wolf at: [email protected] q ISIT US AT SASSNET COM q V . Cowboy Chronicle January 2015 Page 75

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